Lost Monarch
Encyclopedia
Lost Monarch is the name of a Coast Redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) tree in Northern California
that is 26 feet (7.9 m) in diameter at breast height (with multiple stems included), and 320 feet (97.5 m) in height. It is the world's third largest coast redwood in terms of wood volume (the Del Norte Titan
is listed as the largest single-stem coast redwood tree, in part because the basal measurements of the Lost Monarch contain multiple stems).
Lost Monarch was discovered on May 11, 1998, by Stephen C. Sillett
, and amateur naturalist
Michael Taylor, and is located among other giant redwoods called "The Grove of Titans
". The Lost Monarch Tree is located in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
. The exact location has not been revealed to the public out of concern that excessive human foot traffic may upset that ecosystem
. The tree is estimated to contain 34,914 cubic feet (1,200 m3) of wood volume. One account of the discovery was published by Richard Preston.
of Northern California. Lost Monarch's location is vaguely described:
The Lost Monarch is surrounded by other coastal redwoods known as some of the largest of the species. Of the surrounding redwood trees, some have names from discovers, like El Viejo del Norte, Screaming Titans, Eärendil and Elwing, Stalagmight, and others.
s including Polypodium
scouleri. One report from 2003 estimated that Lost Monarch held 1,000 pounds (± 70 lb) or 450 kilograms (± 30 kg) of P. scouleri fern mat material.
Northern California
Northern California is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The San Francisco Bay Area , and Sacramento as well as its metropolitan area are the main population centers...
that is 26 feet (7.9 m) in diameter at breast height (with multiple stems included), and 320 feet (97.5 m) in height. It is the world's third largest coast redwood in terms of wood volume (the Del Norte Titan
Del Norte Titan
Del Norte Titan is the name of a Coast Redwood tree in Del Norte County, Northern California, that was confirmed by measuring to be at least in diameter at DBH , and tall...
is listed as the largest single-stem coast redwood tree, in part because the basal measurements of the Lost Monarch contain multiple stems).
Lost Monarch was discovered on May 11, 1998, by Stephen C. Sillett
Stephen C. Sillett
Stephen C. Sillett is a botanist specializing in old growth forest canopies. As the first scientist to enter the redwood forest canopy, he pioneered new methods for climbing, exploring, and studying tall trees...
, and amateur naturalist
Naturalist
Naturalist may refer to:* Practitioner of natural history* Conservationist* Advocate of naturalism * Naturalist , autobiography-See also:* The American Naturalist, periodical* Naturalism...
Michael Taylor, and is located among other giant redwoods called "The Grove of Titans
Grove of Titans
The Grove of Titans is a redwood grove in Del Norte County, Northern California, which includes several massive Coast Redwood trees, some being the largest known redwoods in terms of wood volume. The largest Coastal Redwood tree in the grove by volume is Lost Monarch...
". The Lost Monarch Tree is located in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Jedediah Smith Redwoods Park, established in 1929, was named after the noted fur trapper Jedediah Smith, who visited its location during an 1826 expedition. It is located in the northern part of the U.S. state of California, nine miles east of Crescent City, on U.S. Route 199...
. The exact location has not been revealed to the public out of concern that excessive human foot traffic may upset that ecosystem
Ecosystem
An ecosystem is a biological environment consisting of all the organisms living in a particular area, as well as all the nonliving , physical components of the environment with which the organisms interact, such as air, soil, water and sunlight....
. The tree is estimated to contain 34,914 cubic feet (1,200 m3) of wood volume. One account of the discovery was published by Richard Preston.
Location
The Lost Monarch is in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State ParkJedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Jedediah Smith Redwoods Park, established in 1929, was named after the noted fur trapper Jedediah Smith, who visited its location during an 1826 expedition. It is located in the northern part of the U.S. state of California, nine miles east of Crescent City, on U.S. Route 199...
of Northern California. Lost Monarch's location is vaguely described:
The Lost Monarch is surrounded by other coastal redwoods known as some of the largest of the species. Of the surrounding redwood trees, some have names from discovers, like El Viejo del Norte, Screaming Titans, Eärendil and Elwing, Stalagmight, and others.
Epiphytes
Lost Monarch supports and provides a habitat for epiphyteEpiphyte
An epiphyte is a plant that grows upon another plant non-parasitically or sometimes upon some other object , derives its moisture and nutrients from the air and rain and sometimes from debris accumulating around it, and is found in the temperate zone and in the...
s including Polypodium
Polypodium
Polypodium is a genus of 75–100 species of true ferns, widely distributed throughout the world, with the highest species diversity in the tropics. The name is derived from Ancient Greek poly "many" + podion "little foot", on account of the foot-like appearance of the rhizome and its branches...
scouleri. One report from 2003 estimated that Lost Monarch held 1,000 pounds (± 70 lb) or 450 kilograms (± 30 kg) of P. scouleri fern mat material.