The forest is quite hot today, approximately 95°F, luckily under the dappled share of the redwood trees it feels a bit cooler. The primary tree species here are Coast Redwoods (Sequoia sempervirens). I can see ferns growing in the redwood duff and young trees sprouting from the base of the older ones. This is one type of asexual reproduction. The trees grow in clusters here, called fairy rings, which are clones of each other resulting from the original parent tree being cut down. Most of this forest is secondary growth.
UC Santa Cruz Natural Reserve10/2/12
Walkabout 