Organism
California Redwood
TL;DR
Despite centuries of growth, California redwoods rarely exceed 115 meters.
Despite centuries of growth, California redwoods rarely exceed 115 meters. The primary constraint is hydraulic: above ~100-130 meters, water column tension in the xylem exceeds what the vascular system can sustain, causing cavitation (air bubbles that break the water column).
This represents a hard physical limit - gravity plus friction in xylem vessels creates an absolute ceiling that no amount of evolutionary pressure can overcome.
Notable Traits of California Redwood
- Tallest trees on Earth
- Rarely exceed 115 meters
- Limited by hydraulic constraints