5. Redwoods and Associates
Interpretive Stops  1.  Along Aptos Creek  2.  Fern Grotto  3.  Twisted Grove  4.  Geologic Foundation  5.  Redwoods and Associates  6.  Magnificent Old Growth  7.  Fairy Ring in the Making  8.  Granary, Stump, and Burl  9.  The Pourroy Garden 10. The Little Slide 11. Smiley Face Stump 12. Big "Round" 13. Goosepen Tree 14. The "Advocate Tree" 15. The Ravine 16. Pourroy's Picnic Area Additional Information  Animals of Marcel's Forest  TimeLine  Glossary  Teacher Workshop		Redwoods Keep Company with Other Trees Redwood forests do not contain just coast redwoods. Other trees, called "associates" of the redwood, often grow alongside or in the shadows of the redwood. Douglas-fir One of the most common associates of the redwood is the Douglas-fir. In Marcel's Forest, Douglas-firs can be seen growing alongside redwoods throughout the area, especially in the ravine at Interpretive Stops 5 - 8. Unfortunately, these tall conifers rarely live more than 1,000 years, unlike the long-lived redwood. In fact, a 300-year-old Douglas-fir is considered "old" since they are prone to root rot. Douglas-fir seed cones can be found along the trail throughout the forest. About two inches long, they are easily recognized by their three-pointed bracts (bracts are modified leaves that stick out from under the seed cone scale). Here's a story to help you recognize a Douglas-fir seed cone: Douglas-fir Keeps His Seed Cones. See how many seed cones you can count along the trail. Tanoak The tanoak (also called tanbark or tanbark oak), a shade-tolerant associate, typically grows as redwood understory. The tanoak is not actually an oak tree, even though it has the word "oak" in its name. It does belong to the same botanical family (Fagacae), however, as the "true oak" group. True oaks, such as the coast live oaks (Quercus agrifolia) that grow on the hillside above Old-Growth Loop, belong to the genus, "Quercus." The tanoak belongs to the genus, "Lithocarpus." The tanoak acorn is easy to recognize because it looks like a hairy hat. Tanoak acorns, along with black oak acorns, were an important food for Native Americans. European settlers found a different use for the tanoak tree. As early as 1792, tanoak bark was stripped to extract tannins for using in tanning leather hides. In the late 19th-century, the tanning industry reached peak production, resulting in a severe decline in the number of California's tanoak trees. In fact, so many tanoaks were fatally girdled by the practice of stripping bark that botanists of the time predicted the tree would become extinct. Big Leaved Maple A third common associate of the redwood is the big leaved maple. Unlike the redwood, it is a deciduous tree, losing its leaves after they turn a spectacular display of yellowish-orange at the end of September and into early October. Several large, moss-covered big leaved maples can be seen at Pourroy's Picnic area at the edge of the creek. (See Along Aptos Creek). Other big leaved maples can be seen between Stop 14 and the Pourroy's Picnic Area.  Back to GEOLOGIC FOUNDATION   Forward to MAGNIFICENT OLD GROWTH	Redwood tree bark is "stringy" Easily recognized zig-zag features of Douglas-fir tree bark Tanoaks often have cracked light and dark brown bark Bark of big leaved maple is striated (Click to enlarge all photos)

 

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