Originally posted by MANDO
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White Pine: In pre-colonial times White pines in the over 150 ft class were probably not that uncommon in the river valleys of New England. Tall pines were recorded in New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and parts of the central and southern Appalachians. On occasion White pines grew much taller. There is no question that the species exceeded 230 feet in a few cases, with pines reported at 230, 247, 262, and 264 feet. Considering what we see today, these numbers seem impossible. Today there is only a handful of places where the combination of growing conditions and tree age favor pines that can get into the 150 foot and above class. Most places are in the southern Appalachians where we have measured White pines to 207 feet. The Cathedral Pines of Cornwall, CT were the flagship stand of New England. .
The CathedralPines had quite a few trees in the 150 foot class and one was measured to 172 feet "
"Sugar Maple: The potential status of this species is probably earned and actually may be understated..
In-forest Sugar maples in southern New England can easily reach 100 feet, but trees above 115 are rare. Those above 120 are very rare. This tree benefits from water, rich soil, protection, etc. The tree grows on the east side of Todd Mountain which is part of the Todd-Clark ridge complex"
"Eastern Hemlock: I have measured this species over most of New England, elsewhere in the Northeast, and in the central and southern Appalachians. .
Hemlocks in southern New England can easily surpass 100 feet. Above 115, they quickly sort themselves out. Even on the most favorable sites, they seem to hit a wall at 120 to 125 feet. The Ice Glen tree is an exception. It is ideally located. In parts of Pennsylvania and West Virginia, on occasion the Hemlock can surpass 140 feet in height. In a few spots in the southern Appalachians, the species can surpass 160. Northward into Vermont and New Hampshire the species tops out at 95 to about 105 feet. Rarely a little taller"
"American Sycamore: In our region, this species can easily reach 90 to 110 feet, but I just don't find them above that . Big sycamores in other parts of the central and northeastern U.S. seem to top out at 90 to 110 feet.
In the South and in the Mid-west, the American sycamore can easily surpass 120 feet. There are reports of much taller trees, but the reports usually are based on wholly inadequate measurements. I measured a sycamore in the Beall Woods of Illinois to almost 120 feet. Will Blozan has measured them to 152 feet in the Smokies"
I can go on.
You really need to get out of the city more
