logosmall.JPG (9291 bytes)

Flora of the Carolinas and Virginia, Working Draft of 1 January 1997 -- Gymnosperms Alan S. Weakley.
Copyright - Alan S. Weakley, 1998, 1999. All Rights Reserved.


Taxodium L.C. Richard (Bald-cypress)

References: Godfrey (1988), abbreviated as Z, Duncan and Duncan (1988), Watson in FNA (1993). Key adapted from Z.

1. Taxodium ascendens Brongniart, Pond-cypress. Cp (NC, SC, VA?): limesink ponds (dolines), clay-based Carolina bays, wet savannas, shores of natural blackwater lakes, swamps of blackwater streams; common. March-April; October. T. ascendens ranges from e. NC south to s. FL, west to e. LA; it is surely one of the most scenic trees of eastern North America. Material resembling T. ascendens occurs in se. VA; its taxonomic status is uncertain. [= RAB, G, K, S, Z; T. distichum -- F, in part; T. distichum var. imbricarium (Nuttall) Croom -- FNA; T. distichum var. nutans (Aiton) Sweet]
[ Specimen Image ]

1. Taxodium distichum (Linnaeus) L.C. Richard, Bald-cypress. Cp (NC, SC, VA): brownwater and blackwater swamps, usually in riverine situations; common. March-April; October. T. distichum ranges from DE and e. MD south to FL and west to e. TX and se. OK, north along the Mississippi River and its tributaries to s. IN and s. IL. [= RAB, G, K, S, Z; T. distichum var. distichum -- C, FNA; T. distichum -- F, in part only (see also T. ascendens)]
[ Specimen Image ]
There has been much debate over whether the two taxa of Taxodium in our area should be treated as species or varieties, and if as varieties, the proper nomenclature. I agree with Godfrey (1988), in his preference "to recognize two species ... because it is my perception that the vast majority of trees (populations) are thus distinguishable." At least in our area, true intermediates appear to be non-existent, though the "mimicry" of the two species creates "pseudo-intermediates" that can cause difficulties in identification. Occasionally, as at the junction of Lake Waccamaw and the Waccamaw River (a hybrid habitat) the two species can be seen growing together. There are no intermediates, and with both species present for comparison, even juveniles trees are readily identifiable. Neufeld (1986) discusses the different architecture and ecophysiology of the 2 species.
The only other species in the genus is T. mucronatum Tenore, ranging from s. TX south to Mexico and Guatemala. West of the Mississippi River, the architecture of T. distichum comes to resemble that of T. mucronatum, suggesting the possibility of introgression. For this and other reasons, Watson in FNA (1993) and other authors prefer to treat T. mucronatum as a third variety of T. distichum, T. distichum var. mexicanum Gordon.