Giant Sequoia

Description:

Very large evergreen tree, with broad tapering trunk. Bark is reddish-brown, fiberous with deep ridges. Instead of needles, this tree's leaves look more like scaly green twigs. Cones are medium sized round, or oblong, with large scales. (Larger then other cypress, but smaller then other pinecone varieties such as those from Fir or Spruce trees.

Habitat:

Cultivated. (You can find these Sequoia on the walking trail owned by, and located behind St. Ignatius Church). Only found in the Sierra Nevada mountain range in California, United States, and some cultivation.

Notes:

Part of the Cypress family and closely related to the Redwood tree. This tree is increasing rare, because it relies on forest fires to trigger the release of seeds from the cone. Since modern forestry practices limit forest fires, few new trees have sprouted.