Nestled high in the northern mountains of Taiwan, the Taiwan Crypmeroid is a magnificent coniferous tree from the Cypressaceae family. With ancestors tracing back 100 million years, it proudly holds the title of the tallest tree in East Asia.
Referred to as the Heavenly Sword, this tree soars to an impressive height of 84.1 meters in the Peishan Mountains of northern Taiwan.
The remarkable discovery was confirmed in 2023 when a climber ascended the trunk and measured from the crown using a tape measure.
“Taiwan, historically known as Formosa, conceals a secret deep within its rugged terrain, where ‘giant’ trees exceeding 80 meters in height thrive,” stated Dr. Rebecca Chia-Chun-Su from the Taiwan Forestry Research Institute and teammates.
“Our passionate group, known as ‘Taiwan Tree Explorers,’ has devoted themselves since 2014 to locating and documenting these towering giants.”
“The team comprises professional tree climbers, ecologists, geologists, and experts in remote sensing.”
“In 2023, our persistence led us to discover the king of the island’s forests, the magnificent Taiwan Crypmeroid at 84.1 meters tall.”
This extraordinary giant currently claims the title of the tallest tree in all of East Asia.
“The indigenous Rukai community refers to these colossal firs with poetic titles, such as the tree that hits the moon.”
To kickstart this project, researchers mapped a national tree canopy using aerial laser scanning data, initially identifying 57,065 potential trees.
However, due to the cliff’s steepness, many trees were inaccurately measured. One instance recorded a 25-meter tree as 90 meters tall simply because of its location on a sheer cliff.
To address this challenge, they sought assistance from the public.
About 372 online volunteers reviewed laser-scanned images of trees, refining the list to 4,736 strong candidates and significantly reducing the expert verification workload by 92%.
The final analysis identified 941 giant trees over 65 meters tall, thriving in clusters within the mountainous cloud forests located between 1,500 to 2,500 meters above sea level across Taiwan.
Notably, 9 out of the 10 tallest trees exceed 70 meters, all recognized as Taiwan Crypmeroid.
Scientists have cautioned that climate change is elevating cloud bases in Taiwan’s mountains, posing a threat to forests where these giant trees rely on moisture.
Moreover, the frequency of typhoons impacting the island has surged by 35% over the last 40 years, with flooding and landslides threatening trees that grow in steep river valleys.
During the expedition, illegal logging of native trees was also uncovered, even within protected areas.
“Mature trees play a critical role in forest ecosystems,” the researchers noted.
“These giants serve as significant carbon reserves, with a single giant tree sequestering as much carbon as an entire grove of medium-sized trees.”
“They create vital habitats and alter microclimates, thereby enhancing forest biodiversity.”
“Despite their immense size, these giants are particularly susceptible to climate change,” the researchers emphasized.
“Human activity is another looming threat. Although over 95% of identified giant trees are within protected regions, their remote locations make monitoring a challenge.”
“During the field survey, we encountered some illegal poaching of native trees.”
“This underscores the necessity of public protection, coupled with a strong communal vigilance.”
The team’s study is published in the journal Forest Frontiers and Global Change.
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Rebecca Chia Chun Sue et al. 2026. A journey to find the tallest tree in Taiwan. Front. For. Glob. Change 9; doi: 10.3389/ffgc.2026.1746112
Source: www.sci.news