A small image of one of the sycamores can be seen at: http://bsu.edu/ourlandourlit/Literature/Authors/images/landscape/armstrongdlrbigtree.jpg
On Dec 15, 5:14 pm, jon parker <[email protected]> wrote: > ENTS, > I found the following article excerpt interesting describing the > forests of Southwestern > Indiana:http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-6578478/Forest-communities-an... > > Quote: > "Ridgway's actual measurements of height of trees still living, and > those he observed as recently cut, substantiated his earlier > estimates. His careful measurements of the heights by triangulation > and lengths of actual felled trees allowed him to determine the > average tree-top level at 130 feet (40 m), and that "by no means > infrequent monarchs attained a height of more than 180 feet (55 m), > and that the tallest sycamores and tulip trees approached 200 feet (60 > m) in height." (Ridgway 1872) > > Ridgway's diameter measurements were equally impressive. Bald cypress > (Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich.) stems that were recently cut were 9-10 > feet (2.7-3 m) across, whereas some harvested earlier exceeded the > dimensions of any stumps, or those still standing (Ridgway 1876). > Other trees measured by Ridgway included a sycamore (Platanus > occidentalis L.) in Gibson County located nearly opposite Mt. Carmel, > Illinois, at 15 feet (4.6 m) diameter at 10 feet (3 m) above ground, > whose height as measured by dendrometer was "probably the tallest tree > east of California," in Ridgway's (1882) words. He also stated that, > "In the same half mile square, I measured, on this same day, twelve > sycamores which averaged near 8 feet (average girth of 23 1/2 feet) in > diameter and 127 feet spread of top." Additionally, four tulip trees > (Liriodendron tulipifera L.) within a single photograph taken in 1888 > by Ridgway ranged from 5-7 feet (1.5-2.1 m) dbh each. (The term dbh, > stands for diameter at breast height, the forester's term for the > standard height measurement for trees, i.e., at 54 inches or 1.37 m > above ground.) A Shumard's red oak (Quercus shumardii Buckley) below > the White River mouth was 6 feet (1.8 m) in diameter at 12 feet (3.7 > m) high (Figure 2). Within 100 yards (90 m) of the above oak were two > black walnuts (Juglans nigra L.), each 6 feet (1.8 m) in diameter > above the butt swell, " -- Eastern Native Tree Society http://www.nativetreesociety.org Send email to [email protected] Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees?hl=en To unsubscribe send email to [email protected]
