The bald cypress is Louisiana’s state tree, known for its ability to grow in swamps and clay soil. It attracts birds and wildlife, and its wood is resistant to decay. The tree can grow up to 120 feet and is found in other states besides Louisiana.
The bald cypress is the state tree of Louisiana and received its official designation in 1963. It has a reputation for inhabiting a swamp, grows tall and strong in the Louisiana bayou, but also thrives in other areas of the state and can do well in clay soil. Flooding has a great influence on the final shape of the tree, which can resemble a conical shape or a column. Spanish moss is often found hanging like a cascade of lace from the tree’s branches, attracting warblers that are looking for a meal. Canada geese also stop at Bald Cypress in Louisiana during their migrations.
Birds such as eagles, egrets, herons and ospreys build their nests in the branches of the Louisiana State Tree. Its seeds are consumed by a variety of wildlife, including squirrels, wild turkeys, waterfowl, ducks, and the evening billbill. Bald cypress also produces lumber for human use and is popular for furniture, caskets, flooring, docks, railroad ties, shutters, and boats. Its wood is resistant to decay, leading some to call it “the eternal wood”.
The Louisiana state tree is a conifer that will lose its leaves in the fall. The bark is normally a brown color with red undertones, but this color changes to gray as the bark becomes weathered. The trees grow slowly, but live very long and can be centuries old. Bald cypress can be up to 6 feet (1.82 meters) in diameter and grow to 120 feet (36.57 meters).
The swamps where cypress forests grow are also called cypress domes due to the dome-shaped canopy of the trees. Salamanders and toads visit the cypress domes to breed. Many mammals and birds find their drinking water there. Human photographers visit the marshes to record the sight of cypress “knees,” the stump-like root structure poking out of the water, and Spanish moss hanging from the branches above. One theory posits that knees are how bald cypress roots get oxygen, especially during floods.
The Louisiana state tree is just one of many types of trees that cover half of the state. It can also be found outside of Louisiana along the eastern United States from Delaware to Florida. Its habitat also extends west to southeast Texas and north to parts of Oklahoma and Mississippi.
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