CREDIT TK Fall 2026 39 APOLLO 14 MOON TREE (DOUGLAS-FIR) Pseudotsuga menziesii ORIGIN Grown from a seed that orbited the moon in 1971 in the personal kit of astronaut Stuart Roosa, a former U.S. Forest Service smoke jumper. Planted in 1976 outside the Peavy Forest Science Center as part of the U.S. bicentennial celebrations. — Seeds from the Apollo 14 mission showed no effects from their zerogravity excursion. In 2022, a new batch went up with Artemis I. CAMPUS RHODODENDRON COLLECTION Rhododendron occidentale, Rhododendron ‘Loderi hybrid’ and others ORIGIN OSU’s rhododendron collection began in 1938, when Professor Arthur L. Peck planted nearly 300 plants in front of the Memorial Union. — Emblematic of spring and early summer on the Corvallis campus. — In the 1960s and early 1970s, campus grounds crews planted discards from the university’s breeding program. — Each year, grounds workers plant 50 to 100 new rhododendrons. MU GIANT SEQUOIAS Sequoiadendron giganteum ORIGIN Planted together in the Memorial Union Quad in 1926, these three giant sequoias celebrate their 100th birthday this year. — Their lower limbs have been intentionally allowed to grow to the ground, creating the feeling of stepping into a living vestibule. — Giant sequoias have extraordinarily thick, spongy bark — up to 2 feet thick — that helps protect them from wildfires. The trees can live more than 3,000 years, and their cones can remain on their branches for up to 20 years before releasing seeds. — Native to California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range, giant sequoias are the largest tree species on Earth. OREGON WHITE OAK Quercus garryana ORIGIN Considered the oldest tree on campus, this oak outside Magruder Hall dates to about 1673 — 103 years before the Declaration of Independence and 186 years before Oregon became a state. — Due to its historical significance, it was named a Corvallis Heritage Tree. MANy OF ThE TREE-FORM RhODODENDRONS ON ThIS CAMPUS DO NOT ExIST ANywhERE ELSE. OREGON WHITE OAK 70 Feet RHODODENDRON 10-20 Feet APOLLO 14 MOON TREE 60 Feet MU GIANT SEQUOIAS 135 Feet ILLUSTRATIONS By ThE MOUNTBIRD STUDIO
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