Base of Redwood

Base of Redwood
Originally uploaded by Monty Elm.

Redwoods don't usually germinate from seeds. Seeds are very often buried under thick layers of dead leaves and do not receive sufficient light under the canopy. More commonly, young plants sprout from the shallow roots of these tall trees, eventually forming a ring of baby redwoods encircling the mother redwood. The bark of the tree is incredibly fire-resistant, in tandem with the fire ecology of the environment.