Bald Cypress

Taxodium distichum var. distichum

Bald cypresses tend to grow in permanent standing water and are usually found in swamps, creeks, bayous, and bottomland sites that regularly flood. You will find a grove of bald cypresses near Brummett Creek, which branches off of North Fork Salt Creek, on some land that does occassionally flood. In general, I find the furrowed bark and soft needles of bald cypresses cool; the orange foliage in particular caught my eye this fall. Bald cypresses also have "knees" which grow a foot or so out of the ground around the trunks. The purpose of these woody pillars is not known for certain, but it is likely they help with anchorage and/or aeration for the trees.