Scientific Name : Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich.
Common Name : Bald Cypress, Deciduous Cypress
Chinese Name : 落羽杉
Family : TAXODIACEAE
Local distribution status : Exotic species
| Origin | Native to the SouthEast region of North America. |
|---|---|
| Ecology | Plants generally require sufficient oxygen below the ground to avert root rotting. You may wonder, why Bald Cypress can still thrive in swamp forests, the habitats of the tree. For not being ruled out by the nature, Bald Cypress has evolved pneumatophores, a type of modified root that renders the tree excellent acclimatising to anaerobic environments. Due to its comparable height to human knee, it is also called as ‘knee’. Knees are submerged from the main roots of the tree. They are meticulously designed with a rather porous outermost woody layer, allowing oxygen to diffuse easily into phloem and aerate the root system. Knees are always neighbouring the trunk. To alleviate insufficient oxygen under water, when the root of Bald Cypress immersed in water, more knees would be developed to obtain more oxygen. Bald Cypress which grow in drought environments seldom or would not develop knees. |
| Vitality | Bald Cypress shows marvellous adaptation to drought, inundated and shady environments. Good planting prefers full sun exposure and acidic soils. |
| Meaning of names | The specific epithet distichum means ‘distichous’, referring to its leaves beautifully arranged in 2 ranks on annual branchlets. On account of its leaves peeling off and driving wind like feathers in winter, it is also named as ‘落羽杉’ in Chinese. |
| Growing habit | Deciduous tree. |
|---|---|
| Height | To 50 m. |
| Root | Buttressed. Pneumatophores (knees) present or neighbouring the trunk. |
| Stem | Bark brown, peeling off in long strips. Swollen at base, tapering upward and generating a conical tree form, branches extend horizontally. |
| Leaves | Leaves alternate, arranged in 2 rows on current year's branchlets,distichous. Blade linear, base twisted, apex acute, pale green, dark reddish brown and peeling off in winter. |
| Pollen cones | Terminal, aggregated, shortly pedicellate, ovate. Monoecious, unisexual flowers. |
| Seed cones | Seed cones globose to ovoid, brownish yellow or white powdery when mature from green. Seeds brown, winged. |
| Flowering period | March to April in Hong Kong. |
| Fruiting period | July to October in Hong Kong. |
Scientific name above is based on Hong Kong Herbarium website: https://www.herbarium.gov.hk/en/hk-plant-database/plant-detail/index.html?pType=species&oID=9369
Scientific names from other databases
― Flora of China: Taxodium distichum (Linnaeus) Richard
― Plants of the World Online: Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich.