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| For several months now, a lone stake has protruded from the ground near the sidewalk that leads to the Student Union Building. What's the point of that? Was it left there by mistake....for three months? |
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| The stake marks an emerging cypress knee. This past spring, when the grasses, wildflowers and weeds were allowed to grow more than usual, the cypress knee was noticed and spared from the lawn mower blades. |
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| This week the stake became a post: a label was affixed to the metal pole to explain its presence. Since we're in Louisiana, it's fair to assume that most folks will be able to recognize the brown woody formation as a cypress knee. But, where's the tree? |
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| Our best guess is the nearest bald cypress (Taxodium distichum). It's growing on the opposite side of the sidewalk, partially concealed by a needle palm, Louisiana palmettos and an ever-expanding stand of Hercules'-club (Aralia spinosa). This bald cypress is more than 25 years old. In November 1995, Professor Jeff Trahan collected the specimen from C. Bickham Dickson Park in Shreveport. It was planted in the arboretum at the same time. |
