These trees have survived because the mountain valleys trap cool downward-moving air on summer evenings that condense moisture into fog. The mountain valleys are also warmer in winter than the surrounding mountaintops. This preserves an isolated temperate environment for the redwoods. Two Types of Needles You may be familiar with the needles found growing near the shady forest floor. The inch-long needles spread out from the Almost everyone who begins to study redwoods eventually happens upon a mystery on the forest floor.
Branches appear on the ground with tight scale-like spikes.
They look very much like cedar, or possibly juniper. They are neither. 93Eif Used with permission.