Sequoiadendron facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sequoiadendron |
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| Trees in Sequoia National Park | |
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| Sequoiadendron chaneyi foliage fossil, Nevada | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Division: | Pinophyta |
| Class: | Pinopsida |
| Order: | Pinales |
| Family: | Cupressaceae |
| Subfamily: | Sequoioideae |
| Genus: | Sequoiadendron J.Buchholz |
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Sequoiadendron is a group of amazing evergreen trees. An evergreen tree keeps its leaves all year round. This group, called a genus, includes two kinds of trees. Only one of these kinds is still alive today.
The two species are:
- Sequoiadendron giganteum: This is the famous giant sequoia. It is still alive today. These huge trees grow naturally in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California.
- † Sequoiadendron chaneyi: This tree is now extinct. It was an older type of Sequoiadendron. Scientists have found its fossils mostly in the Nevada part of the ancient Colorado Plateau. This was during a time called the late Miocene epoch.
Contents
Meet the Giant Sequoia
The giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum) is one of the biggest trees on Earth. It is known for its massive size and long life. These trees can live for thousands of years. They are truly living giants!
Where Giant Sequoias Live
Giant sequoias only grow naturally in a small area. This area is found on the western slopes of the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. They prefer certain elevations where the climate is just right. This special home helps them grow so big and strong.
What Makes Them Special
Giant sequoias are famous for several reasons:
- Size: They are the most massive trees by volume. This means they contain the most wood.
- Age: Many giant sequoias are over 2,000 years old. Some are even older than 3,000 years!
- Appearance: They have thick, reddish-brown bark. This bark is soft and spongy. It helps protect the tree from forest fires.
Ancient Tree History: Fossil Records
Scientists learn about ancient trees like Sequoiadendron from fossils. Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of plants and animals from long ago.
What Fossils Tell Us
Fossils of Sequoiadendron pollen and larger plant parts have been found. These fossils show that these trees existed a very long time ago. They might have appeared as early as the Cretaceous period. This was the time when dinosaurs roamed the Earth!
Where Fossils Have Been Found
These ancient tree fossils have been discovered across the Northern Hemisphere. This includes places like western Georgia in the Caucasus region. Finding fossils in different places helps scientists understand how these trees spread. It also shows how Earth's climate and land changed over millions of years.
Images for kids
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Sequoiadendron chaneyi foliage fossil, Nevada
