Sequoiadendron giganteum Wellingtonia

Sequoiadendron giganteum is a massive tree which was, surprisingly, only discovered in 1850. It is a paleoendemic in the North American flora with a native range that is restricted to the Sierra Nevada in California where there are several named, giant individuals of great age. Many trees there are 90m tall with trunks of 11m in diameter and it has been estimated that some trees are greater than 3,000 years old. One famous tree, called the Tunnel Tree, had such a girth that it was cut to form a tunnel wide enough for motor vehicles to drive through. It was introduced to Britain in 1853, a year after the death of the Duke of Wellington, and was named Wellingtonia in his honour, but in North America it is known as Giant Sequoia or the Big Tree. No living trees have greater volume than Sequoiadendron giganteum. Another of its notable features is its thick, fire resistent bark. It doesn't tolerate shade very well and in its native range it probably depends on fires to supress competition from other trees. It has been planted widely in parks and estates in Britain and in West Glamorgan notable specimens occur in Jersey Park (Briton Ferry), Gnoll Park (Neath), Margam Park, St James Gardens (Swansea), Morriston Hospital and Aberpergwm.