A particularly large tree in the Merced grove, with a huge burl that has grown in response to previous injury. This species was formerly placed in another genus, Sequoiadendron, based on differences in morphology and its ecology. Today most agree that it is similar enough to the coastal redwood to be in the same genus. In this species the thick red bark also protects against fire. The hot and dry summers expose the forests to the probability of fire, and this has been a problem to the national park management that seeks to protect the tree. Since the formation of the parks the forests have been stringently protected from fire, and undergrowth has grown very thick. Now if a fire were to occur the burning undergrowth would severely damage the big trees, so the park rangers must carefully burn and cut this undergrowth. With no fire at all big trees might eventually be replaced by other species.