This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/plant/bald-cypress-species, University of Alabama in Huntsville - Taxodium Distichum - Bald Cypress, University of Connecticut - Taxodium Distichum, United States Department of Agriculture - Taxodium distichum, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Taxodium distichum, North Carolina State University - Taxodium distichum, Missouri Botanical Garden - Taxodium distichum. The closely related Montezuma, or Mexican, cypress (T. mucronatum) is native to the southwestern U.S., Mexico, and Guatemala. Updates? It’s a conifer, so its foliage consists of needles, not leaves. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... …structures are the “knees” of bald cypresses (.
Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. However, unlike many conifers, bald cypress is deciduous. Bald cypress, (Taxodium distichum), also called swamp cypress, ornamental and timber conifer (family Cupressaceae) native to swampy areas of southern North America. A tree growing in wet soil is strongly buttressed about the base, and its horizontal roots often send conical woody projections called “knees” above the waterline. The seed cones are green and globular and are typically no larger than 3.5 cm (1.4 inches) in diameter. In fact, they get the name “bald” cypress because they drop their leaves so early in the season. The presumed function of the knees is still poorly understood; they may help oxygenate the roots or provide support in the soft muddy soil. As it matures, it develops a coarse wide-spreading head. In addition, the light, yellow-green foliage of the bald cypress hangs loosely from the tree. The taxonomy of the genus Taxodium is contentious; the genus consists of one to three species. Bald cypresses are long-lived and slow-growing; old trees are usually hollow. The tree is grown as an ornamental for its colourful fall foliage and can be cultivated far north of its native range. Corrections? On a twig, the branchlets form on both sides and arch out, leaving a small space between each branchlet. The bark is brown or gray with a stringy texture. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Their fall colors are tan, cinnamon, and fiery orange. Announcing our NEW encyclopedia for Kids! These stumpy, flat needles grow only ½ inch to ¾ inch in length and thickly cover short branchlets that sprout from twigs. A young bald cypress is symmetrical and pyramidal. Omissions? Its tapering trunk is usually 30 metres (about 100 feet) tall and 1 metre (3.3 feet) in diameter. The trunks of bald cypress trees are covered in thin bark that varies in color from gray to reddish-brown and peels off of the tree in strips. Pond cypress, on the othe… The tree is grown as an ornamental for its colourful fall foliage and can be cultivated far north of its native range. The wood of the bald cypress is valued for its water-resistance and is known as pecky, or peggy, cypress in the lumber trade when it contains small, attactive holes caused by a fungus. Bald cypress trees, writes the University of Florida, produce linear leaves that spread two-ranked, like a feather. Green Whisper® bald-cypress (Taxodium distichum ‘JFS-SGPN’) has very bright green foliage.
Like every living tree, it grows foliage that helps it with photosynthesis. Young trees have pyramidal (pyramid-shaped) crowns, but these even off to a … Peve Minaret bald-cypress (Taxodium distichum ‘Peve Minaret’) is a dwarf cultivar growing 8 to 10 feet high and 3 to 4 feet wide. The trees are deciduous, though the leaves can persist year-round in warm climates. The flat needlelike leaves are arranged alternately in two ranks along small twigs. The twigs themselves remain bare of needles. The reddish brown bark weathers to an ashy gray. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). A bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) isn’t actually bald. Although many conifers are evergreen, bald cypress trees are deciduous conifers that shed their needlelike leaves in the fall. The wood of the bald cypress is valued for its water-resistance and is known as pecky, or peggy, cypress in the lumber trade when it contains small, attactive holes caused by a fungus. The tree has a very soft , feathery look. It rarely produces knees. The smaller pond, or upland, cypress of the southeastern U.S. is usually listed as a variety of the bald cypress (T. distichum, variety imbricatum); however, it is sometimes considered to be a separate species (T. ascendens). It is generally considered to be a separate species and is distinguished from the bald cypress by its shorter, persistent leaves and larger cones. By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica.
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