The Senator, a 3,500-year-old bald cypress in central Florida, burned and collapsed last week. At 118 feet, it was one of the tallest trees east of the Mississippi. Investigators are still trying to figure out the cause of the fire. Arson remains a possibility, although it had been initially discounted. Two other possible theories are being considered: the tree was struck by lightning long before Monday (maybe as long as two weeks) and slowly smoldered from the inside, or friction from the wind caused it to combust.

1) In this 1920s image, two men gave an indication of the girth of the Senator, named after Senator M.O. Overstreet, who donated land for a park in 1927. (Florida State Archives)

2) The tree in 2004 (Steven D. Barnes/Orlando Sentinel)

3) The tree, burning and charred. The only one in Big Tree Park to catch fire, it was equipped with a lightning rod to protect it from the elements. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel)

4) Steve Wright of the Seminole County Fire Department, left, and D.M. Shaw of the State Department of Agriculture assessed the tree remains. (Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press)

(Source: The New York Times)

Weekend Readers’ Pictures, December 9: Fragile

1. “The sun behind poppies gave them a tissue-paper effect.” (Photo: Charlie Cade)
2. “As the street sweeper advanced down the street, I had to capture this fragile composition before it was blown away.” (Photo: James Auton)
3. “The shell of a Chinese lantern plant.” (Photo: Susanna Trowbridge)

(Source: Guardian)