At Weekly Wondrous, we believe that every tree is a winner. Because what’s not to like about a carbon-storing, water-purifying, habitat-providing, lovely, leafy planet fixture? However, to clinch official “champion” status, a tree has to possess that special something such as exceptional height, width, or age that makes it stand out in its field—or forest.
In 2019, two statuesque rainforest dwellers made the cut and were added to the official A-list of champion trees for record-breaking height: a 290-foot angelim vermelho (Dinizia excelsa) located in the Paru State Forest in Brazil, and a 339-foot yellow meranti (Shorea faguetiana) located in the Malaysian state of Sabah on the island of Borneo.
Towering 21 stories above the forest floor, the leviathan angelim vermelho was tracked down deep in the heart of the Brazilian rainforest by indomitable researchers from the Universities of Jequitinhonha and Muscari Valleys in Brazil, and Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Now hailed as the tallest tree in Amazonia, the tropical hardwood is about the same height as the Statue of Liberty, give or take a torch. Common across Guyana and northern Brazil, the average angelim vermelho grows to approximately 160 – 190 feet tall and is typically harvested for its durable timber, which is used for everything from boatbuilding to floorboards to bridges. It’s believed that the recently discovered giant was able to achieve a remarkable 100 feet of additional growth undisturbed as a result of its remote location in the Amazon basin, one of the most biodiverse ecoregions on Earth.
In June, researchers from the Universities of Oxford, Cambridge, and Nottingham introduced the world to the tallest tropical tree known to date, the 339-foot yellow meranti, dubbed “Menara” (Malay for “tower”) which soars over the Danum Valley Conservation Area in Borneo. Almost 50 feet taller than its Brazilian rainforest rival and so far, second in height only to famed Hyperion, a majestic 380-foot coast redwood in Redwood National Park in California, the mammoth yellow meranti is also a contender for tallest flowering plant in the world. The endangered tree species can currently be found in Indonesia, Thailand, and the Phillipines as well as Malaysia, although numbers are decreasing due to logging and land-use change.
While we are on the subject of top-notch trees, we would like to extend a little local love to the “Queen’s Giant,” the largest and oldest tree In New York City. The 133-foot tall tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) located in Flushing Queen’s Alley Pond Park is estimated to be approximately 350 years old. Although somewhat of a pipsqueak by Brazil, and Borneo standards, the flowering favorite remains a colossus in our hearts.
If you live in the United States and would like to join the global ranks of intrepid tree-trackers, you can locate, measure, and nominate the most tremendous tree you can find for inclusion in the National Register of Champion Trees through our planting partners at American Forests.
Whether a world champion tree, the biggest on the block, or a beloved backyard beauty, we’re always delighted to welcome another green growing presence to the planet. You can introduce one of your own by planting a tree with Favorite World Press this holiday season or any time of the year. No digging required!
