Pond cypress facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pond cypress |
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Taxodium
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ascendens
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The pond cypress (scientific name: Taxodium ascendens) is a special type of tree found in North America. It is a deciduous conifer, which means it's a cone-bearing tree that loses its leaves in the fall, just like many broadleaf trees.
Many scientists think the pond cypress is a close relative of the bald cypress. They are so similar that some consider it a variety of the bald cypress. However, the pond cypress grows in different places. You'll mostly find it in calm, dark-water rivers, ponds, and swamps. It especially likes areas called "cypress domes."
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What Does a Pond Cypress Look Like?
Pond cypress trees usually grow to be about 15 to 18 meters (50 to 60 feet) tall. Their leaves are shorter and thinner than those of the bald cypress. These leaves grow on branches that point upwards instead of spreading out.
The bottom of the tree's trunk is wide, even on young trees. This wide base helps the tree stay steady in soft, muddy ground. The cones of the pond cypress are also small, usually less than 2.5 centimeters (1 inch) across. The bark is a lighter gray color.
Cypress Knees
If a pond cypress grows in water, it often has unique growths called cypress knees. These are woody bumps that stick up out of the water from the tree's roots. Scientists are still not sure what these cypress knees are for.
Pond cypress trees can live for a very long time. Some are thought to live for up to 1,000 years. One famous tree, "The Senator," which grew in Florida, was believed to be over 3,400 years old!
Where Do Pond Cypress Trees Grow?
This tree is native to the southeastern United States. You can find it from southeastern Virginia all the way to southeastern Louisiana. It also grows south into Florida, but not in the very southern Florida Keys.
In Everglades National Park, you can see small, stunted pond cypress trees. These areas are known as "dwarf cypress savannas."
Where Do Pond Cypress Trees Live?
Pond cypress trees naturally grow in shallow ponds, along the edges of lakes, and in swamps and wetlands. They prefer wet, poorly drained, and acidic soils. You'll find them at low elevations, usually from sea level up to about 30 meters (100 feet) high.
See also
In Spanish: Ciprés de los estanques para niños
