Lost Monarch is a
coast redwood (''Sequoia sempervirens'') tree in
Northern California
Northern California (colloquially known as NorCal) is a geographic and cultural region that generally comprises the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. Spanning the state's northernmost 48 counties, its main population centers inc ...
that is in diameter at breast height (with multiple stems included), and in height. It is the world's fifth largest coast redwood in terms of wood volume (the
Del Norte Titan
Del Norte Titan is a coast redwood (''Sequoia sempervirens'') tree in Del Norte County, Northern California, that was confirmed by measuring to be at least in diameter at breast height (DBH, measured above soil grade), and tall. Measured by b ...
was listed as the largest single-stem coast redwood tree, in part because the basal measurements of the Lost Monarch contain multiple stems).
[Earle,Christopher J.]
Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endlicher 1847
Gymnosperm Database, 2013, accessed July 2, 2013
Discovery and location
Lost Monarch was discovered on May 11, 1998, by
botanist
Botany, also called , plant biology or phytology, is the science of plant life and a branch of biology. A botanist, plant scientist or phytologist is a scientist who specialises in this field. The term "botany" comes from the Ancient Greek w ...
Stephen C. Sillett, and
naturalist Michael Taylor, and is located among other giant redwoods called "The
Grove of Titans" in
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park is a state park of California, United States, preserving old-growth redwoods along the Smith River. It is located along U.S. Route 199 approximately east of Crescent City. The park is named after explorer ...
,
although its exact location has not been revealed to the public out of concern that excessive human foot traffic may upset the
ecosystem
An ecosystem (or ecological system) consists of all the organisms and the physical environment with which they interact. These biotic and abiotic components are linked together through nutrient cycles and energy flows. Energy enters the syst ...
or lead to vandalism.
[Vaden, Mario D.]
Some redwoods are secret
2013, accessed July 2, 2013 The tree is estimated to contain of wood volume,
and is surrounded by other coastal redwoods known as some of the largest of the species. Of the surrounding redwood trees, some have names from the discoverers, such as El Viejo del Norte, Screaming Titans, Eärendil and Elwing, Stalagmight, and others.
Epiphytes
Lost Monarch supports and provides a habitat for
epiphyte
An epiphyte is an organism that grows on the surface of a plant and derives its moisture and nutrients from the air, rain, water (in marine environments) or from debris accumulating around it. The plants on which epiphytes grow are called phoroph ...
s including ''
Polypodium scouleri''. One report from 2003 estimated that Lost Monarch held about of ''P. scouleri'' fern mat material.
[Williams, Cameron B. and Stephen C. Sillett]
Epiphyte communities on redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) in northwestern California
The Bryologist, Volume 110, Number 3, pages 420-452. 2007, accessed July 2, 2012
See also
*
List of individual trees
The following is a list of notable trees. Trees listed here are regarded as important or specific by their historical, national, locational, natural or mythological context. The list includes actual trees located throughout the world, as well as ...
References
{{Reflist
External links
Orion Article: Day of Discovery - Excerpt from ''The Wild Trees'' by Richard Preston
Individual coast redwood trees
Redwood National and State Parks
Individual trees in California