Bald Cypress

Description:

These deciduous trees grow up to 50m tall. They are noted for the cypress knees the surround the trunk at ground level. It is thought that these help to anchor the tree in the loose or muddy soil. The oldest known Bald Cypress has been dated to around 364 AD.

Habitat:

Native to the SE USA. Bald cypress prefer flat ground and alluvial soil. They are generally found less than 50m above sea level although some do grow up to 500m above sea level in Texas. It grows in wetland areas prone to periodic flooding, being found along the Atlantic coastal plain, the Gulf coast plain, and the Mississippi valley.

Notes:

Spotted in the Florida Botanical Gardens http://www.flbg.org/ Official State Tree of Louisiana University of Arkansas Department of Geosciences Tree-Ring Laboratory http://www.uark.edu/misc/dendro/oldgrowt...