Bald cypress knees; photo by Amy Morrison Flickr (noncommercial use permitted with attribution / share alike). The Atchafalaya Basin is a unique combination of wetlands, bayous, marshes, estuaries,and river delta area.
for the latest tree-cataloging updates. These trees thrive in the water, but they can also live on land above water as long as conditions are right. Once again Angels are headed your way ps. Unlike most conifers (which are evergreens), the bald cypress is deciduous (it loses its needles in the fall - giving the tree a "bald" appearance). This renewable resource provides the raw material for Louisianas second largest manufacturing employer: the forest products industry, which includes over 900 companies in 45 parishes directly employing over 25,000 people. To this day I enjoy puttering around in our garden, growing plants for beauty and food. C E Clark from North Texas on May 23, 2016: Lots of information and great photos! A majestic tree that grows in many parts of Louisiana, particularly in swampy areas. You will find them growing in full sunlight to partially shady conditions. A bill was drafted and passed in 1963. Demas W Jasper from Today's America and The World Beyond on March 21, 2016: I wouldn't have imagined any evergreen tree being "bald"! BayouTeche National Wildlife Regus - 9,000 acres of bottomland forest and swamp, Upper Ouachita National Wildlife Refuge - 43,000 acres in Union and Ouachita parishes, Bayou Sauvage National Wildlife Refuse - 24,000 acres urban refuge, Bogue Chitto National Wildlife Refuge - 36,000 acresof riverine swamps and hardwood uplands, White LakesWetlands Wildlife Conservation Area - 71,000 acres south of Gueydan in the Mermantau River Basin, ROckefeller State Wildlife Refuge - 76,000 acres of coastal marsh located in Cameron and Vermilion parishes on the Gulf of Mexico, Sabine National Wildlife Refuge - 125,000 of coastal marsh located between Sabine and Calcasieu lakes. Dolores Monet from East Coast, United States on March 30, 2016: I love bald cypress trees. Another Albany Woodworks project, this A. Hays Town inspired home full of natural wood charm. It became popular, especially in warm climates like Key West, New Orleans, Charleston, and Savannah, as the go to for front doors, exterior wood siding, windows and shutters. Water and bug resistance meant homes could stand the test of time and weather the elements with cypress as the exterior defense. Unfortunately, help for the old growth bald cypress forests came much later than it did for the redwoods - only in the past 20 years. We have them growing in a few spots up here in Maryland. The annual cypress harvest is estimated at 30 million board feet of cypress each year. The first settlers in the region used cypress lumber for their houses, fences and boats but it was not until the late 1800s that extensive cypress harvesting began. (To hug that tree, it would take at least nine people. Sinker cypress can be found in bogs, bayous, and river bottoms from North Carolina to Texas, wherever 19th century loggers cut old growth timber and used waterways to float the logs downriver to mills close to ports where the lumber could be shipped and used to build growing settlements and cities. Over the years, the river bottom became inundated with these logs, which are prized today for their color and very tight ring count. The Arena Media Brands, LLC and respective content providers to this website may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website.
as theofficial state tree in 1963. It is 2,624 years of age! Thanks for the good wishes! Hope all is well down there. We have had way too much rain this year. . Nice that you are enjoying them up in your area. Buckhorn Wildlife Management Area, Brushy Lake Trail, Tensas Parish (see, Kisatchie Group Alexandria and North Louisiana, Protecting America's Waters/ Scenic Rivers, Billiot, Wendy Wilson. Bayou Boeuf, Kisatchie National Forest, Rapides Parish, 11. The Atchafalaya River meanders from near Simmesport southward past Pierre Part down to Morgan City and the Gulf of Mexico. [Initially identified and landmarked trees are on public property and are accessible by boat or on foot.] Through the Louisiana Purchase Cypress Legacy (LPCL), volunteers work to identify and landmark bald cypress trees that are at least 215 years old, or alive at the time of the Louisiana Purchase (1803). Coordinated by Sierra Club Delta Chapter member Harvey Stern, the group works to heighten awareness for the fact that while most of the old growth bald cypress has long been logged off, a surprising number of large old cypress can still be found throughout Louisiana. The Basin has an estimated average annual Once again our little winged friends are headed your way ps. Jackie Lynnley from the beautiful south on March 21, 2016: I have some knee photos I took near a lake and wondered what on earth they were! 1664 Robert Street at Baronne, Uptown New Orleans , Orleans Parish, **FOUNDER'S TREE** (plaque), 2. Its five times more productive than any other river basin in North America. He often highlighted the beautiful color variation and grain pattern of this wood in kitchen cabinet doors. Unlike most conifers, which are evergreens, the bald cypress is deciduous, meaning it loses its needles in the fall, giving the tree a "bald" appearance. By legislative Act No. Devika Primi from Dubrovnik, Croatia on March 29, 2016: Hi Peggy Woods that is exactly what I meant! Other species of animals found in the area During the early 2000s, many cypress swamps were clear cut to make cypress mulch. I think some people carve them into art forms and use them to make natural arrangements for decoration. In the wintertime they lose all their leavesthus the "bald" name is deserved. Often they would lose some logs along the way, which have become today's sinker cypress, sinker pine, even walnut and other varieties. I must admit it kind of bothers me (a lot) to see the made into knick knacky obects and furniture. swamp in the United States. I love their feathery foliage when leafed out. Currently, the LPCL campaign is seeking to identify the largest/oldest cypress in each Lousiana Parish. I was so busy looking at all of the water and bridges as I traveled through LA last year that I missed these beauties there. I had never seen these amazing trees till I came to Florida and have been mesmerized by them ever since. United States. We have a 20 to 30% chance of rain daily but it goes up significantly on Friday of this week then tapers off. Hope you have a good day today! This content is accurate and true to the best of the authors knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional. Bald cypress trees are resistant to most damage caused by insects and fungi. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxodium_distichum, https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Plants-and-Fungi/Bald-Cypress, https://conifersociety.org/conifers/articles/bald-cypress-a-great-tree-for-the-home-landscape/, https://www.srs.fs.usda.gov/pubs/misc/ag_654/volume_1/taxodium/distichum.htm. Chemin a Haute Bayou, Chemin a Haute State Park, Morehouse Parish "Castle tree", 6. The Louisiana Cypress grows slowly, but can grow to great height, so that in some swamps, though tall, they will not have a cone on top, which has been swept away by past hurricanes. (see Blog inventory for maps and GPS coordinates)1. When located in swampy soils, the bald cypress forms "cypress knees" with age that grow up from the roots, probably for stability. Others tours originate in South Louisiana cities such as Breaux Bridge, Henderson, Slidell and Thibodauxas well as in the Atchafalaya Basin. Established in 2006, the Atchafalaya National Heritage Area stretches across 14 parishes in south-central Louisiana. Heartwood of old-growth cypress contains cypressene oil, giving the wood valuable characteristics that enable it to thrive in the South Louisiana climate. nutria, mink, fox, muskrat, beaver, otter The students led by their teacher petitioned Louisiana Legislature to add the Bald Cypress as the official state tree. The massive tree measures 53 feet in circumference at breast height. I am glad you found this topic interesting. bottomland hardwood forest in North America Cypress was used in true Town style by incorporating custom French Doors and solid wood windows. will not rot, is resistant to insects, and yet being a hardwood, is a This process became a volatile issue, and today much of clear cutting has been halted.
To back their choice, they planted 10 on the school grounds and enlisted the help of LSU School of Forestry. It does not surprise me that objects are made from the wood of these trees. 3. It is an interesting tree to be sure. Sending Angels your way this afternoon. It was chosen thanks to the fourth graders of Jefferson Terrace Elementary School in Baton Rouge and their teacher Ms. Juanita Sommers. 2020 Albany Woodworks 30380 PAYNE ALLEY RD TICKFAW LA 70466| (225) 567-1155. So now I know. Designated as the official state tree of Louisiana in 1963, the Bald Cypress is considered to be a symbol of the southern swamps. Selected for its historical and economic importance to the state as well as its abundance and its aesthetic beauty, a bill was drafted and passed through the Louisiana Legislature. The beauty of cypress wood as a building material was quickly recognized by architects and craftsman alike. Tangipahoa Parish LADWF site near Hwy 22 at Tangipahoa River, Sierra Club and "Explore, enjoy and protect the planet" are registered trademarks of the Sierra Club.. , Want to see a tree? The very durability and sturdiness that made cypress the wood of choice for the building of New Orleans and towns all over Louisiana has helped the surviving old giants endure through the centuries. :). Thousands of miles away, a similarly record-setting species of flora faced a similar threat to the old growth redwood forests - the old growth cypress forests of the Southeastern United States. A common question is how did the Bald Cypress become Louisianas state tree? Tangopaso, Public domain via Wikimedia Commons. This recognition vastly enhances their status in forest management planning. As always. The Louisiana State Museum system operates a facility in Patterson, Louisiana, housing two unique museums. Glad you liked learning about them. Learn how your comment data is processed. How to Install Sinker Cypress Exterior Siding? Basin. Currently, the LPCL campaign is seeking to identify the largest/oldest cypress in each Lousiana Parish. Bear Bayou area Lake Fausse Point/Lake Dauterive, Atchafalaya Basin, St. Martin/Iberville Parish, 10. Good article and I see you have some others on landscaping. Once a candidate tree has been identified, measured, and cored, and an approximate age has been determined, the tree can be certified as a "Louisiana Purchase Cypress Legacy Tree. The Cypress Legacy Initiative then documents the precise location of the certified tree through GPS coordinates. Louisiana has some of the most extensive wetlands, swamps, marshes, bottomlands, estuaries and river systems in the United States. Ours now give us a "year's supply" of those each year. 49 identifies the official tree as "bald cypress" ( Taxodium distichum), offering that the bald cypress is commonly known as the "cypress" tree. Going to share this article with followers and pin it to Awesome HubPages. Sinker Cypress was used to restore several ceilings through the home. Of the approximately one million acres of cypress found in Louisiana in the 1800s, an estimated 800,000 acres exists today, totaling about 1 billion board feet. Rajan Singh Jolly from From Mumbai, presently in Jalandhar, INDIA. Bald Cypress. Country Roads Magazine, 28 Jan. 2014, Privacy Policy/Your California Privacy Rights. They are very different from the bald cypress trees. You are smart to be growing fruit and nut trees which supply your family with all their needs. Because the mature older trees' heartwood resists decay and rot, the lumber is prized for building purposes, including everything from roofing shingles and fencing to the finest of furniture-making and more. 
Nice to know you enjoyed this. Many bald cypress trees grow in eastern areas of Texas, including Houston and all along the upper Gulf Coast, for that matter. Bald cypress prefer wet, swampy soils (on riverbanks, floodplains, or wet depressions) but are widely adaptable. The State of Louisiana employs various forest conservation efforts as well to conserve and revitalize this invaluable natural resource in Louisiana and to raise awareness of ongoing threats to remnant old growth habitats, such as sedimentation, salt water intrusion, and cypress logging for mulch.
From the earliest days of European settlement, Louisiana cypress trees served the people moving into the area. These outgrowths, which tend to grow around the tree as shown in the photos here, are thought to buttress the tree and possibly help keep it upright. They can grow quite tallup to 100 feet or more. ), 16. Glad you enjoyed the information about these trees. These trees have long been valued for their natural resistance to damage from insects and water, earning the title of wood eternal. I first learned about them in high school when a friend showed me pictures and actually had some of the cypress knees in his possession. and raccoon. :) Yes cypress trees are a staple in the deep South. This deciduous conifer tree from the cypress family Cupressaceae sheds its light feathery foliage during the winter months, first turning a burnt orange, tan, or rusty color. The festival is a family oriented and community event. Jean Lafitte National Park, Jefferson Parish, 6. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. One of the most natural and least-altered river swamps in the United States is the Honey Island Swamp. Peggy Woods (author) from Houston, Texas on May 23, 2016: I am sure that cypress tree knees can be made into beautiful pieces of art. Check the LPCL blog inventory to view in which parishes the oldest cypress have yet to be identified. Want to get involved? A partial list is included below: The wood produced from the Louisiana Cypress Thanks for the shares. In the swamps, these trees live in water and face infestation of native wood-eating insects like termites. Cypress wood is very resistant to decay and the wood is considered valuable for a variety of products. Cypress trees twelve feet or greater in circumference (measured above the buttress) are potentially good candidates for "Louisiana Purchase Cypress Legacy Trees. To determine the approximate age of candidate trees, the Cypress Legacy Initiative primarily uses circumference and diameter measurement as well as selective coring to count tree rings.