Swamp Cypress
Common Name: Swamp Cypress, Bald Cypress
Biological Name: Taxodium distichum
Origins / Native Range: Southeastern United States – particularly in swampy, waterlogged areas such as the Mississippi Valley and Florida.
Interesting Facts:
• A deciduous conifer, like the Dawn Redwood.
• Famous for its “knees” – woody root outgrowths that rise above the water, possibly aiding stability and oxygen exchange.
• Can live for thousands of years; some specimens are over 2,000 years old.
• The wood is durable and water-resistant, historically used for building boats and houses.
Conservation Status: Not currently threatened, though swamp drainage and logging have reduced old-growth stands.