Taxon

Taxodium distichum

 
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Taxodium distichum - Bald Cypress, Swamp Cypress
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Common name: Bald Cypress, Swamp Cypress
Family: Cupressaceae (Cypress)
Distribution: EC and SE USA to Guatemala
Habitat: Lowland river floodplains and swamps; 0-530 meters
Hardiness: -30 - 30 F
Life form: Deciduous tree
Attracts: Birds, butterflies
Structure: Pyramidal
Average height: 50-70'
Bark characteristics: Light brown to gray and exfoliating.
Foliage characteristics: Alternate, linear, flat leaves have needles in two types. .25" long.
Fall color: Orange, copper
Cone characteristics: Round, scaled, purple-green cones mature to brown. 1" diameter.
Bloom characteristics: Male and female flowers grow in slender tassles near the edge of branchlets.
Description: A swamp-loving species, the bald cypress gets its name from its deciduous, or “balding,” nature. Like some other swamp-growing trees, older bald cypress have a buttressed base - this does not mean they have castle-like walls supporting them. For trees, a buttressed base means that the bottom of the tree swells out, and has fluted ridges. A unique feature of this southern tree is that it grows differently on dry land than it does in soggy conditions. In very wet areas, the bald cypress will grow up to 3 foot high “knees” - knobby root growths that rise from the ground around the cypress. However, even with these knees, Smithsonian Gardens’ bald cypresses won’t be walking away anytime soon.
The bald cypress is the state tree of Louisiana, and Threatened in Indiana.
Links: Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families • The Gymnosperm Database • USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service

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