Taxodium distichum
Bald Cypress
- Family: Taxodiaceae
- Form: Deciduous tree, pyramid to conical shape for young trees, older trees having flattened top and irregular canopy, reaching 70-100+ ft. tall
- Leaves: Coniferous 2-4 in. long branchlets, needle like, linear, and distichous, new growth light green becoming dark green in summer to rich brown in fall
- Stem/Bark: Reddish brown, fibrous, trunk buttressed at the base, with a 10 ft. diameter at chest height, often with pneumatophores around the base
- Flower: Monoecious, inconspicuous and not showy
- Fruit: No true fruit, globose female cones assorted singularly or in pairs at end of branch, about 1in. diameter, composed of several 3 angled scales
- Comments: The pond cypress or Taxodium ascendens is a related native species, with smaller, more appressed leaves and greater tolerance to stagnant water
- Additional Resources:
The Institute for Regional Conservation Link
Wikipedia Link
