10 Ohio trees are biggest in species

NORTH CANTON, Ohio (AP) — A new list shows Ohio has 10 trees that are the nation’s largest for their species.

The state’s champions on the recently released 2010 National Register of Big Trees include a towering cucumber-magnolia in North Canton that stands 79 feet tall and measures 24 feet around at chest level. The local homeowners association claims it’s also likely the oldest tree of its kind, probably 430 years old.

Coast-to-coast, the American Forests organization has identified 733 national champion or co-champion trees for its annual registry. Ohio’s other champs are an American sycamore, eastern cottonwood, American elm, shingle oak, Kentucky coffeetree, Atlantic white-cedar, Oriental arborvitae, hortulan plum and downy hawthorne.