We have been discussing trees that have close relationships with humans. Here is one with an increasingly close association with our landscapes. Baldcypress, Taxodium distichum, is a huge, unusual tree that dominates wetland forests in the southeastern US.

You may have noticed that in recent years it has become a darling of the ornamental horticulture trade. It is very tolerant of the poor soils typical of urban landscapes and is exceptionally beautiful.

It grows to be an immense tree and is the longest-lived tree in eastern forests. Baldcypress gets its name from its close relationship to other members of the cypress family, Cupressaceae, and its deciduous habit, turning cinnamon brown before losing its leaves in autumn. Baldcypress habitat and populations appear to be secure.

Baldcypress produces peculiar root growths known as knees. The function of knees is not fully understood, but is probably a structural adaptation for support in hurricane-prone coastal forests. Knees are one of the most interesting features of coastal wetland forests, though they can be frustrating when you are paddling through these forests.

I love baldcypress forests, though I believe it is overused in urban environments. Do you know this tree?

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Photos by the author