Pond Cypress Observation Ecosystems/ Cypress Dome / Pond Cypress Cypress Dome 3/19/02    Photographed by: Kim Smith

Descriptive Information Specimen: Pond Cypress (Taxodium distichum var. Imbricarium) Habitat: Depressions in surrounding marsh, typically with a longer hydroperiod. Range: mainly coastal References: Additional insight was given by our teacher, Dr. Tom Goodwin Names taken from the National Audubon Society Field Guide to Florida by Peter Adlen, Rick Cech, and Gil Nelson. Copyright 2001 Chanticleer Press, Inc. Observation Trees form a dome shape when the trees in the center are taller because the conditions are better in the middle then the sides of the depression. We observed a knobby-kneed cypress near the middle of the dome. The cypress forms 'knees' which are growths from the roots that project above the soil and water. This is an adaption for living in water-saturated places to obtain oxygen. The tree was approximately four feet around at the base. There were 10 knees projecting out of the water ranging from 1 inch to 3 feet in height. The tree has two main branches that fork off at the same point. We noticed that other small branches that grew from these always grew out in a cluster that formed a ring around the main branch. The bark was thick and scaly. The water at this point around the tree was about 7 inches deep. At the water line there was a layer of slimy algae. Above the algae there were pockets of mud among the roots and bark. There were small weeds beginning to grow in this mud. A few inches higher patches of moss covered much of the bark. About 2 1/2 feet above the water line a young Strangler Fig (Ficus aurea) was taking root and beginning to take over. There was lichen patches also dispersed around the whole trunk. There were various sizes of the Quill Leaf, also called Wild Pine (Tillandsia fasciculta). They were the most prevalent plant on the tree, growing all over the trunk and many of the branches. There were many small mosquito fish swimming in the water around the knees and trunk. There were 5 spider webs linked between the different knees and some connecting to the trunk. There was several snail shells around it also. There was not a lot of animal life around this particular tree at the time.