http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/missourich_3978.mp3
Right here in the Ozarks, there are champions…they’re the biggest of their species in Missouri. KSMU’s Michele Skalicky has more.
There’s one on Polk County, one in Barry County and even one here in Springfield. They’re champion trees, and have been certified as such by the MO Dept. of Conservation. Frances Main is a forester with the Department.
"To be a champion tree, the tree just needs to have the heighth, diameter and spread of branches to be considered larger than any of the trees of that species in our state."
According to Main, most champion trees in SW MO grow only in this part of the state such as the Ozark chinkapin. But MO’s largest tree—an American Sycamore—is in Polk County. It stands 94 feet tall, has a circumference of 333 inches and an average spread of 120 feet.The Champion Tree in Springfield is a shingle oak, and it’s in the center city area.Main says the champion tree program is basically a recognition program.
"Just to point out the variety of tree species that we have and how large they can get, and it's just fun to look for the really big trees and then the landowner or the agency that has it and the forester that finds it gets a little certificate saying that they have the largest of this species known in Missouri."
Missouri has 116 trees that have been certified as champions by the MO Cons. Dept. The state has 4 national champions: A bur oak, the largest of its kind in the nation, grows along a road in southern Boone County. The other 3 national champions are a pumpkin ash in Mississippi County, an Ozark chinkapin in Barry County and an eastern wahoo in St. Louis County.To learn more about MO”s champion trees, visit mdc.mo.gov/forest/IandE/MOChampionTrees.