Talk:The Senator (tree)

This article seems to be about a very interesting tree, but requires significant cleanup. I am going to put a cleanup tag to prod this process. Kuki ni 05:20, 15 May 2006 (UTC)

Woodshop news?
Do we have a more authoritative source than "Woodshop News"? 03:01, 22 July 2008 (UTC)

Species
This tree is apparently (still) a pond cypress, although sourcing that information may be difficult. The references on the page are written by a non-botanist, who apparently doesn't understand what happened with the botanical classification of bald/pond cypresses. It is possible that the tree was misidentified as a pond cypress but was really a bald cypress all along; this doesn't sound like the case from the information given. Rather than being a matter of misidentification, it's a matter of different classifications.

Bald cypresses and pond cypresses may or may not be considered different species. If they are the same species, they are different varieties in that species. Either way, they can be seen as distinct entities (although "bald cypress" in a broader sense could include the "pond cypress"). Whether they are different species or different varities in the same species is a matter of opinion (neither classification is incorrect). At one time the general consensus was that they are a single species (with two varieties). In the mid-20th century the consensus shifted to their being two species. Now the consensus has mostly shifted back to the single species view. However, this is still not universal. The USDA Plants database is an authoritative source that supports the two species view. The Flora of North America project goes for the two variety (one species) view. Wikipedia currently follows the two species view.

Given that Wikipedia currently treats pond and bald cypresses as distinct species, I am going to change all the places where this tree is referred to as a bald cypress to a pond cypress.192.104.39.2 (talk) 17:09, 13 January 2011 (UTC)

I also changed the claim that this is the largest tree of it's species in the US, to the oldest. The given sources didn't claim it to be the largest, and there are larger trees listed here:http://www.americanforests.org/resources/bigtrees./search_register.php?search_term=taxodium 192.104.39.2 (talk) 17:14, 13 January 2011 (UTC)

Deaths in 2012
This tree is listed at the "recent deaths" page of WP. I support that, but I wonder if we can include this article in the Category:2012 deaths. that category is described as being for deaths of people. if we want to include this, we would have to change the description of that category.Mercurywoodrose (talk) 22:12, 21 January 2012 (UTC)

There is mention that some think the tree isn't 100 percent dead and that it is shooting up saplings. Well, is this true or not? --24.177.0.156 (talk) 20:02, 21 November 2015 (UTC)

Possibly Giving Lady Liberty tree its own article
I'd like to sugges creating a separate article for Lady Liberty, the companion tree to the Senator. What with the recent media storm following the Senator's demise, already additional attention is being directed to Lady Liberty's history and preservation. As Big Tree Park decides how to move forward, focus on Lady Liberty will almost certainly increase, even if plans for a memorial to The Senator follow through. There's no question that the second tree has notability. It's mentioned alongside the Senator in nearly all of the recent news pieces, and is featured with the Senator in numerous secondary sources existent prior to the Senator's fire. I'm wondering if anyone can think of objections for creating a new article. Greg.Hartley (talk) 05:03, 25 January 2012 (UTC)

Your wish came true!--24.177.0.156 (talk) 20:04, 21 November 2015 (UTC)

Picture
Can someone add a picture of what the tree looks like today? Flygon's friend- Smarter than the average bear! 01:21, 9 June 2012 (UTC)

I agree but that should be addition to the 1967 one of the Dad with those two cute kids. --24.177.0.156 (talk) 20:03, 21 November 2015 (UTC)