The Bald Cypress

The bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) is an ancient and unique tree that is usually associated with the southern states because of its abundance in swampy regions. “Remains of prehistoric forests show that millions of years ago [bald cypress] grew in abundance within the Arctic Circle; because of changes in the climate, it was driven south. The bald cypress found its way to the eastern and southern coast lands” (Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, 2002). On May 26, 196, the bald cypress was officially proclaimed the Louisiana state tree.

The bald cypress is a large, slow growing but long-lived deciduous conifer. It frequently reaches 100 to 120 feet in height and 3 to 6 feet in diameter (United States Department of Agriculture). The bald cypress is a massive tree that can live for hundreds and even thousands of years. “Individual trees have been reported up to 1,200 years old in Georgia and South Carolina” (Coladonato, 1992). The bald cypress is well known for its garnishing moss. In the forest, the bald cypress typically has a broad, irregular crown, often draped in curtains and streams of gray Spanish moss (Coladonato, 1992). The leaves of the bald cypress are 1/3 to ¾ of an inch long and are usually spread in a flat plane on feather like branchlets; these branchlets are shed in the fall (Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry). The bark of the bald cypress is reddish brown. It is usually quite thin and fibrous with an interwoven pattern of narrow flat ridges and narrow furrows (Coladonato, 1992). The bald cypress has an extensive rooting system. It develops a taproot as well as horizontal roots that lie just below the surface and extend 20 to 50 feet before the bending down (C...

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...groundwater” (Coladonato). Many people enjoy using cypress trees to their benefit by planting them for shade, landscaping, and along bodies of water. They are known for their Spanish moss that provides shade in water tolerant areas. It has been successfully planted throughout its range as an ornamental and along roadsides.

Works Cited

Wilhite, LL P., and J. R. Toliver. "Taxodium Distichum and J. R. Toliver." Taxodium Distichum. N.p., n.d. Web. 09 Feb. 2014.

Coladonato, Milo 1992. Taxodium distichum. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer).

Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ [2014, February 9].

Strain, Mike, DVM. Louisiana's State Tree. N.p.: Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry, 2002. Print.