A Limit on Tree Height?

How tall can trees grow? Probably not much higher than the tallest trees now living, according to research done by George Koch of Northern Arizona University at Flagstaff and his colleagues.

Conditions necessary for growth, such as photosynthetic capability and water flow, become increasingly less favourable near the top of the tallest trees on Earth (mostly redwoods in northern California). The difficulty of raising water above 110 metres forces drought stress on the tops of trees, and seems to enforce a potential maximum height of between 122 and 130 metres.

Links:

• The sky's not the limit in the Globe and Mail (article archived - available for purchase)


• Study limits maximum tree height in the BBC News


• The Limits to Tree Height abstract from Nature

Posted by Eric La Fountaine at 5:21 PM on May 11, 2004