MISSOURI'S CHAMPIONS: CAPE GIRARDEAU TO MORE CHAMPION TREES THAN ANY OTHER COUNTY

This state champion sugarberry tree is growing in Old Lorimier Cemetery in Cape Girardeau.

Rocky Hayes, at right, stood by the state champion American beech tree which stands on the east side of St. Vincent's Seminary in Cape Girardeau.

Rocky knows champions.

As an urban forester for the Missouri Department of Conservation's Southeast Forest District, Rocky Hayes knows what it takes for a tree to be classified a state champion. He has even discovered one of the champions himself -- an American Beech -- in Cape Girardeau on the grounds of St. Vincent's Seminary. A plaque hangs on the wall of his North County Park office acknowledging his discovery.

There are, according to Hayes' count, 118 state champion trees in Missouri. Fifty-two of the champions, roughly 45 percent, are located in the 12 county Southeast Forest District. Cape Girardeau County alone boasts 12 champions, more than any other county in the state. Third on the list is Mississippi County with nine.

In addition to the American Beech discovered by Hayes, Cape County claims the state champion Bigtooth Aspen, Red Buckeye, Flowering Dogwood, Pignut Hickory, Eastern Hophornbeam, Shingle Oak, White Oak, and Eastern Red Cedar. Old McKendree Cemetery, north of Jackson, is home to two state champions -- the Winged Elm and the Black Hickory. The champion Sugarberry grows on the east end of Lorimier Cemetery in Cape Girardeau, near the grave of city founder Louis Lorimier.

"A lot of the state champions are found in cemeteries and parks," Hayes said, "because trees are allowed to grow old there."

The designation of state champion is conferred on any tree that is the largest of its species in the state. Three things are measured in making the determination of which tree is the largest: the circumference of the trunk, the height, and the crown spread of the tree. Then, an elaborate and comprehensive scoring system is used to determine if the tree is indeed the champ of its species.

Of the three criteria used, trunk size is the most important in determining which tree is the largest, with one point being awarded for every inch of circumference or distance around the tree. About 60 to 70 percent of a tree's final point total comes from trunk size.

Least important, Hayes said, is the crown spread, which is the upper part of the tree, including the leaves and living branches. Some large trees grow in heavily wooded areas where they have little room to extend outwardly. Others grow virtually alone and may spread out a great deal. Thus, says Hayes, to be equitable, crown spread is not figured as heavily in determining the largest of a species.

One difficulty in finding and determining state champion trees is that some trees may, in fact, be the largest of their species, but simply do not appear very large to the casual observer.

"When most people think of big trees, they think about the giant sequoias of California," says Hayes.

But most species of trees do not come close to approaching the sequoias in size or majesty. Many remain very small in comparison to other trees. One particular buttonbush tree in Butler County, for example, has a circumference of only seven inches. In contrast, the state champion Sycamore tree has a circumference of nearly 27 feet. Still, the Butler County buttonbush remains the state champion for its species.

"We're not only tracking the really big trees," said Hayes, "but also the smaller, less conspicuous trees."

Hayes acknowledges there are several reasons why Southeast Missouri produces so many state champion trees, most of which are related to the better growing conditions found in the region. Southeast Missouri is closer to the Gulf of Mexico than any other area of the state, thus supplying it with more precipitation. The region's excellent soil provides a good environment for growth. And, because the region is further south, it has a longer growing season.

Additionally, Southeast Missouri, especially in and around Cape Girardeau County, is a section of the state where so many types of habitat come together, from the swampy lowlands to the Ozark forest to the Mississippi River. Each habitat hosts its own set of species of trees. Because there is more species diversity in this region, there is more of a chance for producing champion trees.

Missouri, along with other states, participates in a national program recognizing champion trees. Administered by the American Forestry Association, the program works to create a public awareness of trees. The association, the oldest conservation organization in the United States, publishes biannually "The National Registrar of Big Trees" for the sole purpose of documenting and encouraging the preservation of the largest trees of each species.

Two national champions -- the Pumpkin Ash and the Persimmon -- are located in Southeast Missouri's Big Oak Tree State Park in Mississippi County.

Like champions of other arenas, the state champion trees do not always remain at the top. Some trees are blown over in storms or fall victim to disease or old age. Some are cut down. Still others are replaced when larger trees of the species are discovered.

For that reason, the Missouri Department of Conservation encourages people to join the search for new champions, knowing that even if they don't find a champ, they may yet discover a contender.