Richard Collins: General Sherman giant redwood tree is the largest member of its species alive

WILLIAM TECUMSEH SHERMAN fought in the American Civil War. Fortunately, he was on the Union side. Otherwise, his memorial might now be toppled, which would be ‘a shame’; the General Sherman giant redwood tree is the largest member of its species alive today.

It was suggested, originally, that the tree’s genus be named after another military commander, the Irishman Arthur Wellesley. He died in 1852, a year before John Lindley provided the first scientific description of the tree he called Wellingtonia giganteum in honour of the Iron Duke. Unknown to him, however, there was already a Wellingtonia genus, so the name of an outstanding Cherokee scholar was used instead; Sequoyah had created a writing system for his native language. Thanks to him, the literacy rate of his people soon surpassed that of the European ‘settlers’ who invaded their lands.