California's best-known and most valuable tree, because of the great height of individual trees, the enormous yield per acre, and the quality of its wood. Natural range is restricted to a narrow belt along the coast from Southern Oregon to Monterey County, California, never more than 40 miles from the ocean. Maximum size 23' x 367', average 5-8' x 225'. The wood is light, soft, moderately strong, fine and straight grained, very easily worked and very durable. Used for tanks, flumes, ties, poles, posts and every part of a house from sills to shingles, except floors. Exceeded in diameter and age by the Sierra redwood. Extensive areas of the best stands are preserved in state parks.

Locations: (explanation)

• 139-1: This board is 11/4" x 78" x 10'. 81 board feet. Gift of Hammond Lumber Co., Eureka, Calif., 1917
• 159-2: A very large specimen. A similar board was displayed at the 1939 Golden Gate International Exposition on Treasure Island.

A slab sawn from a large burl. Burls are wartlike protuberances found occasionally on the trunks of trees and at the ground line. They vary in size from a small ball to over 10 feet in diameter and may weigh over 50 tons. The structure of burl wood is very irregular and gives rise to exceptionally well figured grain. Burls are masses of dormant buds that multiply as the trees grow in diameter. Valued for novelties like nut bowls, picture frames, table tops, gavels, vases and the like.

Location: 130-1 (explanation)