General Sherman (tree)
Encyclopedia
The General Sherman is a giant sequoia (Sequoiadendron giganteum
) tree located in the Giant Forest
of Sequoia National Park
in Tulare County, California
. By volume, it is the largest known living single stem tree on Earth. The General Sherman Tree is neither the tallest known living tree on Earth (that distinction belongs to the Hyperion tree
, a Coast redwood), nor is it the widest (both the largest cypress and largest baobab have a greater diameter), nor is it the oldest known living tree on Earth (that distinction belongs to the Methuselah tree
, a Great Basin bristlecone pine). With a height of 83.8 metres (275 ft), a diameter of 7.7 metres (25 ft), an estimated bole
volume of 1487 cubic metre, and an estimated age of 2,3002,700 years, it is however among the tallest, widest and longest-lived of all trees on the planet.
general, William Tecumseh Sherman
, by naturalist
James Wolverton, who had served as a lieutenant
in the 9th Indiana Cavalry under Sherman. In 1931, following comparisons with the nearby General Grant tree
, General Sherman was identified as the largest tree in the world. One result of this process was that wood volume became widely accepted as the standard for establishing and comparing the size of different trees.
Sequoiadendron
Sequoiadendron giganteum is the sole living species in the genus Sequoiadendron, and one of three species of coniferous trees known as redwoods, classified in the family Cupressaceae in the subfamily Sequoioideae, together with Sequoia sempervirens and...
) tree located in the Giant Forest
Giant Forest
The Giant Forest, famed for its giant sequoia trees, is within Sequoia National Park. This montane forest, situated at over above mean sea level in the western Sierra Nevada of California, covers an area of...
of Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park
Sequoia National Park is a national park in the southern Sierra Nevada east of Visalia, California, in the United States. It was established on September 25, 1890. The park spans . Encompassing a vertical relief of nearly , the park contains among its natural resources the highest point in the...
in Tulare County, California
Tulare County, California
Tulare County is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, south of Fresno. Sequoia National Park is located in the county, as are part of Kings Canyon National Park, in its northeast corner , and part of Mount Whitney, on its eastern border...
. By volume, it is the largest known living single stem tree on Earth. The General Sherman Tree is neither the tallest known living tree on Earth (that distinction belongs to the Hyperion tree
Hyperion (tree)
Hyperion is the name of a Coast Redwood in Northern California that was measured at , which ranks it as the world's tallest known living tree. Despite its great height, Hyperion is not the largest known coast redwood; that distinction belongs to the Lost Monarch tree.Hyperion was discovered August...
, a Coast redwood), nor is it the widest (both the largest cypress and largest baobab have a greater diameter), nor is it the oldest known living tree on Earth (that distinction belongs to the Methuselah tree
Methuselah (tree)
Methuselah is a Great Basin Bristlecone Pine tree growing high in the White Mountains of Inyo County in eastern California. Its measured age of 4,842 years makes it the world's oldest known living non-clonal organism...
, a Great Basin bristlecone pine). With a height of 83.8 metres (275 ft), a diameter of 7.7 metres (25 ft), an estimated bole
Trunk (botany)
In botany, trunk refers to the main wooden axis of a tree that supports the branches and is supported by and directly attached to the roots. The trunk is covered by the bark, which is an important diagnostic feature in tree identification, and which often differs markedly from the bottom of the...
volume of 1487 cubic metre, and an estimated age of 2,3002,700 years, it is however among the tallest, widest and longest-lived of all trees on the planet.
History
In 1879 this tree was named after American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
general, William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman
William Tecumseh Sherman was an American soldier, businessman, educator and author. He served as a General in the Union Army during the American Civil War , for which he received recognition for his outstanding command of military strategy as well as criticism for the harshness of the "scorched...
, by naturalist
Natural history
Natural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
James Wolverton, who had served as a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in the 9th Indiana Cavalry under Sherman. In 1931, following comparisons with the nearby General Grant tree
General Grant tree
The General Grant tree is the largest giant sequoia in the General Grant Grove section of Kings Canyon National Park in California and the second largest tree in the world.-History:...
, General Sherman was identified as the largest tree in the world. One result of this process was that wood volume became widely accepted as the standard for establishing and comparing the size of different trees.
Current
In January 2006 the largest branch on the tree (seen most commonly, in older photos, as an "L" or golf-club shape, protruding from about a quarter of the way down the trunk) broke off. There were no witnesses to the incident, and the branch—with a bigger circumference than the trunks of most trees, a diameter of over 2 metres (7 ft) and a length of over 30 metres (98 ft)—smashed part of its enclosing fence and cratered the pavement of the walkway surrounding the sequoia. The breakage, however, is not believed to be indicative of any abnormalities in the tree's health, and may even be a natural defense mechanism against adverse weather conditions. The branch loss did not change the General Sherman's status as the largest tree, as its size has been calculated using measurements of trunk volume, excluding branches.Dimensions
| Height above base | 274.9 | 83.8 |
|---|---|---|
| Circumference at ground | 102.6 | 31.3 |
| Maximum diameter at base | 36.5 | 11.1 |
| 25.1 | 7.7 | |
| 17.5 | 5.3 | |
| 14 | 4.3 | |
| Diameter of largest branch | 6.8 | 2.1 |
| Height of first large branch above the base | 130 | 39.6 |
| Average crown spread | 106.5 | 32.5 |
| Estimated bole Trunk (botany) In botany, trunk refers to the main wooden axis of a tree that supports the branches and is supported by and directly attached to the roots. The trunk is covered by the bark, which is an important diagnostic feature in tree identification, and which often differs markedly from the bottom of the... volume |
52508 ft3 | |
| Estimated mass (wet) | 2105 | 1,910 |
| Estimated bole Trunk (botany) In botany, trunk refers to the main wooden axis of a tree that supports the branches and is supported by and directly attached to the roots. The trunk is covered by the bark, which is an important diagnostic feature in tree identification, and which often differs markedly from the bottom of the... mass |
2472000 | 1,121 |
See also
- List of largest giant sequoias
- List of trees
- Record breaking trees
- National Register of Big TreesNational Register of Big TreesThe National Register of Big Trees is a list of the largest living specimens of each tree variety found in the continental United States. A tree on this list is often called a National Champion Tree....
- Lost MonarchLost MonarchLost Monarch is the name of a Coast Redwood tree in Northern California that is in diameter at breast height , and in height...