- Lost Monarch
Lost Monarch is the name of a redwood tree in
Northern California that has been confirmed by measuring to be at least convert|26|ft in diameter at DBH (diameter breast height, measured convert|4.5|ft|m|disp=s above soil grade), and convert|320|ft in height. Measured by Stephen Sillett, it ranks as the world's largest coast redwood in terms of wood volume, although theDel Norte Titan is listed by some sources as the largest single-stem tree [ [http://www.conifers.org/cu/se/index.htm Gymnosperm Database] ] . The second largest is a coastal redwood inPrairie Creek Redwoods State Park called Iluvatar. Lost Monarch was discovered onMay 11 ,1998 , by Stephen Sillett, and amateurNaturalist Michael Taylor, and is located among other giant redwoods that Sillett and Taylor have called "TheGrove of Titans ". The Lost Monarch Tree (and grove) is located inJedediah Smith Redwoods State Park . The exact location of the tree has not been revealed to the public out of concern that excessive human foot traffic may upset thatecosystem . The tree is estimated to contain 42,500 cubic feet (1,200 m³) of wood [ [http://www.humboldt.edu/~sillett/redwoods.html Humboldt State University Website] with expandable diagrams] . After interviews with Sillett and Taylor, a detailed account of the discovery was published by Richard Preston [Preston, Richard (2007). "The Wild Trees: A Story Of Passion And Daring". Allen Lane Publishers.] .Whether in print or on the internet, comments and documents for the Lost Monarch are exceptionally few, and limited, because very few people know where this tree is, and most of them are not willing to disclose much information. The information is being withheld in an attempt to reduce environmental impact.
Location
The Lost Monarch is in
Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park of Northern California.The Lost Monarch's location is vaguely described:
The Lost Monarch coastal redwood is surrounded by other large coastal redwoods, including others known as the largest of the species. Of the surrounding redwood trees, the Titan size trees have names from discovers, like El Viejo del Norte, Screaming Titans,
Eärendil andElwing , Stalagmight, and others.Epiphytes
Lost Monarch supports and provides a habitat for
epiphyte 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.Fact|date=May 2008References
External links
* [http://www.mdvaden.com/grove_of_titans.shtml Photographs: Documentation and Information including the 'Lost Monarch' redwood]
* [http://www.orionmagazine.org/index.php/articles/article/234/ Orion Article: Day of Discovery - Excerpted from The Wild Trees by Richard Preston]
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