How Big is Big

How Big is Big?

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TOPIC: How big is big
http://groups.google.com/group/entstrees/browse_thread/thread/6e1048f8545dae1f?hl=en
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== 1 of 1 ==
Date: Mon, Nov 12 2007 10:01 pm
From: dbhguru

ENTS,

Earlier today, Will sent me a spreadsheet of 30 southern Appalachian hemlocks, the 15 tallest and the 15 largest by volume. Will listed the circumference of each at 4.5 feet and at 100 feet above base. Before delivering the punch line, I note that if we look at hemlocks in upstate New York or Vermont, a noteworthy large, old hemlock may be 9 feet in circumference at 4.5 feet and between 100 and 115 feet in height.

So what is my point? Well, the average girth of the 15 largest hemlocks from Will's list averages 9.0 feet in girth AT 100 FEET! This drives home for me just how significant the southern Appalachian hemlocks are. For eastern conifers, they are true giants. It is so sad to lose them.

Bob

== 2 of 2 ==
Date: Tues, Nov 13 2007 5:30 pm
From: dbhguru

Will,

The immensity of the GSMNP hemlocks can only be appreciated in the context that the species is usually described - a medium to larger tree 75 to 100 feet tall with a diameter 2-4 feet, rarely larger. So, onto this size range, we set a whole second tree, 3 feet in diameter and 60 to 70 feet tall. That puts the Smoky Mountain trees into perspectve.

Bob

Bob, James,

This is exactly the point I was making regarding the Old Growth Definition and the beginning of my aesthetics discussions. A particular tree or forest section needs to be compared with other trees and forests in the same geographical area to judge its significance. If we were just ot go by teh GSMNP hemlocks, groves in other areas would not measure up and might not have a strong of a case to be made for preserving them. Compared to some of teh larger tracts of pristine forests in the west, the smaller sections of old growth or primary forest in the east would not be noted because of a greater degree of human disturbance in these forests. It is great to know the entire range of sizes, ages, and states of forests throughout the country or species range, but for purposes such as determining the importance of a particular tree or tract, the comparisons need to be made on a smaller regional level (unless of course it the biggest or best documented anywh ere.)

Ed Frank

>
> On Nov 13, 1:01 am, dbhg...@comcast.net wrote:
>
> > So what is my point? Well, the average girth of the 15 largest hemlocks
> from Will's list averages 9.0 feet in girth AT 100 FEET! This drives home for me
> just how significant the southern Appalachian hemlocks are. For eastern
> conifers, they are true giants. It is so sad to lose them.
> >
> > Bob

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