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The tree was named after the titan Hyperion from Greek mythology. [8] [7] Hyperion is estimated to be between 600 and 800 years old [1] [9] [10] and contain 530 m 3 (18,600 cu ft) of wood. [2] Coast redwoods in Redwood National Park. The exact location of Hyperion is nominally secret but is available via internet search. [11]
Two main opposing forces affect a tree's height; one pushes it upward while the other holds it down. By analyzing the interplay between these forces in coast redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens), a team of biologists led by George Koch of Northern Arizona University calculated the theoretical maximum tree height or the point at which opposing forces balance out and a tree stops growing.
It's the job of the park service or relevant forestry commission to protect the tree from visitors. If you visit General Sherman for instance, there are designated walkways in place to try to protect the roots. Infact by not revealing the location, visitors may damage the habitat of more, unprotected trees in search of Hyperion.
Each of the trees in this stand is a genetically identical male that has reproduced vegetatively. Although no single tree in this stand is of that age, the stand itself as a single organism has existed that long. [119] Individual trees in the clonal patch have been listed as having ages of 2000 [120] [121] or even to 3000 years old. [122] [123]
The tree can grow up to 45 m (150 ft) in height and up to 1.5 m (5 ft) in diameter. [3] It starts producing flowers and fruits when the tree's trunk reaches 20 m (66 ft) high. [4] When planted from seed in full sun, fruiting can start at 3.5 years. [5] [better source needed]
While it is the largest tree known, the General Sherman tree is neither the tallest known living tree on Earth (that distinction belongs to Hyperion, a coast redwood), [8] 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 a Great Basin bristlecone pine). [9]
Fairly solid evidence indicates that coast redwoods were the world's largest trees before logging, with numerous historical specimens reportedly over 400 ft (122 m). [14] Hyperion, another coast redwood (Sequoia sempervirens), currently the tallest, is 115.85 m (380.1 ft), which also makes it the world's tallest known living tree. [15]
Today, trees over 60 m (200 ft) are common, and many are over 90 m (300 ft). The current tallest tree is the Hyperion tree, measuring 115.61 m (379.3 ft). [8] The tree was discovered in Redwood National Park during mid-2006 by Chris Atkins and Michael Taylor, and is thought to be the world