VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Sequoiadendron giganteum | Giant Sequoia 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
Giant sequoia was cut commercially from the 1850's up to the mid-1950's.

Young giant sequoia has favorable wood properties.  It is
decay-resistant and used as dimensional lumber, veneer, and plywood
[21].  Old growth has low tensile strength and brittleness, making it
unsuitable for most structural purposes.  The most histroically popular
items milled from giant sequoia were fenceposts, grape stakes, shingles,
novelties, patio furniture, and pencils [10].



IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Only a limited number of wildlife species utilize giant sequoia for food
and shelter.

Birds:  Over 30 bird species have been identified in giant sequoia
groves.  A variety of foliage- and air-feeding birds occupy the upper
canopy, while sapsuckers feed through the thin bark.  Cavity-nesters
that use giant sequoia for nesting include white-headed woodpeckers and
flickers, and an occasional perching bird such as a nuthutch.

Mammals:  Common mammal associates include the deer mouse, chipmunk,
shrew, gray squirrel, golden-mantled ground squirrel, mule deer, coyote,
black bear, and various reptiles.  Reports of chipmunks using giant
sequoia sawdust for cleansing baths have been noted.  The chickaree is
especially noted for its relationship to giant sequoia.  Chickarees make
the soft flesh of green giant sequoia cone scales a major food item.  An
individual chickaree may cut and eat as many as 3,000 to 3,500 cones per
year [10,12].


PALATABILITY : 
Deer browse on 4- and 5-year-old giant sequoia; however, it is generally
considered low in palatability [10].


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
The mean caloric value of giant sequoia seeds is 4,738 calories per gram
dry weight.  The outer portions of the cones provide 4,690 calories per
gram dry weight [12].



COVER VALUE : 
Wildlife primarily use giant sequoia for cover.  Early in giant sequoia
development, large mammals use dense stands as hiding and thermal cover.
Mature trees are used to a limited extent by arboreal species such as
birds, squirrels, and other small mammals [10].



VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
NO-ENTRY


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Giant sequoia is planted as an ornamental inside and outside of its
native range.  It is also used for Christmas trees [28].



MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Insects:  Insects do not seriously harm giant sequoias older than about
2 years.  Carpenter ants (Campanotus laevigatus) do not directly harm
the trees, although they do create pathways for fungi [28].  A
wood-boring beetle (Trachykele opulenta) may kill trees damaged by road
cuts or the undercutting of stream banks.  The larvae of this beetle may
girdle a giant sequoia by feeding on the inner bark.  The cerambycid
beetle (Phymatodes nitidus) lays its larvae in green giant sequoia
cones.  Other cone larvae predators are the gelechiid moth (Gelechia
spp.) and lygaeid bug (Ischnorrhynchus resedae).  In all, 151 species of
insects and 37 arachnids are known to be associated with the giant
sequoia in that they use it to complete some part of their life cycle
[12,19,28].

Disease:  At least nine fungi have been found associated with decayed
giant sequoia wood.  The most prevalent fungi are Heterobasidion
annosum, Armillaria mellea, Poria incrassata, and P. albipellucida.
Diseases generally do not kill trees past the seedling stage directly,
but rather by contributing to root or stem failure.  No other types of
disease, including seedling disease, are known to be problems to giant
sequoia [12,19,28].

Air-pollution creating acidic mists significantly reduce root growth of
giant sequoia [25].  The development of facilities for human use, such
as paved roads and buildings, can damage giant sequoia roots and hence
slow growth [27].

Related categories for Species: Sequoiadendron giganteum | Giant Sequoia