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Tallest tree in Africa found in Tanzania |
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The tallest tree in Africa, and one of the tallest trees in the world, has been found rising on Tanzania's, Kilimanjaro Africa's highest mountain. Standing (approximately 267 feet) 81.5 metres tall, the giant Entandrophragma excelsum – belongs to the mahogany family and replaces the previous reigning height champion on the continent, an 81.5-metre-tall Sydney blue gum (Eucalyptus saligna) from Limpopo, South Africa that died in 2006. The tree is also ancient, estimated to be between 500 and 600 years old. The E. excelsum specimen is also the first member of an indigenous tree species to hold the title. Though far from the loftiest tree in the world (that particular honour belongs to "Hyperion", a California redwood that measures in at 115.7 metres, or around 380 feet, tall), the Mount Kilimanjaro record-setter easily ranks among the tallest. The discovery comes after four years of research done by a team of scientists from Germany and Switzerland, who used laser instruments to accurately gauge the height of 32 specimens growing on Mount Kilimanjaro. The study's leader, Dr Andreas Hemp of the university of Beyreuth first encountered the exceptionally tall tree while exploring the forests of the mountain decades ago, though he was unable to measure it accurately at the time. The tree isn't just remarkable for its size, however. Along with its also-gargantuan E. excel sum neighbors, it's a crucial part of the mountain's ecosystem, playing host to a variety of local epiphytic plants, especially ferns that colonies its branches and bark. There may be even larger trees in Africa, too. Although the continent is not known for producing arboreal giants, findings like this one suggest that other massive specimens – overlooked due to a shortage of research efforts – could be out there. In the case of Mount Kilimanjaro, for example, high temperatures, heavy precipitation and nutrient-dense volcanic soil offer the perfect conditions for primeval trees. Unfortunately, these same conditions make the tree and its neighbours high-value targets for illegal logging operations, and the handful of square kilometres that make up this habitat are not part of a protected area. Hemp's team strongly recommends that the mountainous valley that shelters the trees be added to the nearby legally protected Kilimanjaro National Park. "These valleys, in which the East African tree giants evidently have very good living conditions, should be integrated as soon as possible into the neighboring Kilimanjaro National Park," notes Hemp in a press release. "This would be an outstanding and at the same time particularly urgent protective measure. Otherwise, Kilimanjaro risks losing not only a unique biogeographical archive with highly diverse vegetation, but also its tallest trees." SOURCES http://www.earthtouchnews.com/discoveries/discoveries/upon-africas-highest-mountain-stands-africas-tallest-tree PHOTO COURTESY -Andreas Hemp -Hemp et al 2016 |
  
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13 Comments
Thanks for sharing the article
Posted 28-02-2017 08:54
Its like more than 50 Hilolas standing on top of each other) thats so cool... thank you for sharing
Posted 25-02-2017 16:22
81 meters!?? That's be taller than a twenty stories building! It's just amazing how the tree can pump up the water from the root to the very end of the leaves at top. Thanks for sharing this interesting news
Posted 17-02-2017 03:35
81.5 meter high tree! Amazing. Well reported. It must be protected.
Posted 16-02-2017 21:03
good to know. thanks for sharing :)
Posted 16-02-2017 11:58
Thanks for sharing, Peter! It is surprising how trees can grow into such height. I hope they can be protected from other threats, like illegal loggers as Arushi have mentioned. Have a great day :)
Posted 15-02-2017 16:10
The tree is so beautiful
Posted 11-02-2017 20:35
Wow looks like a very tall one. Good to know about it.
Posted 11-02-2017 12:29
Wow looks like a very tall one. Good to know about it.
Posted 11-02-2017 12:29
Thank you Arushi madan
Posted 10-02-2017 21:01
Yeah its real big Yvonne wabai
Posted 10-02-2017 21:01
I agree with you-such mountainous valley sheltering great giant trees should be added to the legally protected Kilimanjaro National Park to protect them from illegal loggers and any other threat. Thanks for the report.
Posted 10-02-2017 19:53
That tree is really tall.
Posted 10-02-2017 18:07