Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich., family Taxodiaceae Swamp Cypress or Bald Cypress
Deciduous conifer, native to swamps of south-eastern United States. When near water their roots form 'knees' which stick up above the water level. Grown in gardens and parks in Europe and N. America. Height to 45m (150ft) in the wild. Male flowers appear in late autumn, turn yellow and shed pollen in April when the clusters are 10-30cm (4-12in) long. Female flowers are tiny green conelets about 0.2cm (1/10in) long shown in photograph at the base of male catkins. Cones are about 2.5cm (1in) across, and ripen from green to brown. Leaves are soft and flat, evenly arranged in two rows. They turn a dull orange in the autumn and fall with their branchlets. Branchlets are arranged alternately or not quite opposite. Bark is reddish brown and ridged or peeling and fibrous, often fluted at buttressed base. Compare with Dawn Redwood (Metasequoia glyptostoboides). Zone 6