It has been an unusually rainy week here in Caddo parish, with still more rain in the forecast. The high temperatures have hovered around 90 degrees instead of 100. Hot and humid but not much sun. So, let's talk about a particularly water-loving shade tree, the bald cypress (
Taxodium distichum).
There are five individual bald cypresses in the arboretum collection. The pictures below are all of the same tree, purchased from Home Depot, and planted in October 1993, at the top of the arboretum drainage. The pictures were taken on a partly cloudy day, shortly before 1PM.
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| The light green foliage of this bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) blends in with the larger, on-site native water oaks (Quercus nigra). If you look closely, you will notice the pyramidal form of Taxodium distichum. |
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| This is a view of the top of the drainage system for the arboretum. Looking beyond the trunk of Taxodium distichum, we see the bandshell. When we get a heavy rain, water rushes down the slope and collects at this location, and then runs through the arboretum and out at the Fitness Center. |
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| Standing under the tree, looking out, we can see that this Taxodium distichum shades much of the concrete drive. |
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| Looking up, we can see the sun directly above. The foliage of Taxodium distichum isn't as dense as some of the trees we have looked at this summer, such as Fagus grandifolia. |
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| Needle-bearing twigs elegantly hang from drooping branches. |
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| The light-green foliage of Taxodium distichum has a 'feathery' appearance. |
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| The individual needles are quite small, but they are densely stacked on a single twig, maintaining a relatively flat appearance. |
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| There aren't a lot of cones on this particular tree, and right now, they are green. |
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| Taxodium distichum has characteristically reddish-brown 'shreddy' bark. |
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| Be careful not to trip around cypresses. There are several small clusters of knees, blending in with the grass.The purpose of the knees has not been conclusively determined by scientists. |
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| This knee might be mistaken for a rock. |
For more information about this species consult the following:
Texas Parks and Wildlife
Louisiana Plant Identification and Interactive Virtual Tours (LSU Ag Center)
USDA Forest Service
