Taxodium ascendens

Species: Taxodium ascendens

English Name: Pond Cypress

Chinese Name: 池杉

Family: Taxodiaceae

Description:

Taxodium ascendens occurs naturally in shallow ponds, lake margins, swamps and wetlands. It prefers wet, poorly drained and acidic soils, at an altitude of 0–30 metres (0–98 ft) above sea level.

Pond Cypresses growing in water have a characteristic growth trait called cypress knees; these are woody projections pneumatophores sent above the water from the roots, probably enabling this plant to breathe air in habitat with waterlogged soil. Reaches up to 18m of height.

 

© 2011 James Albright

© 2011 James Albright

© 2012 Phuong Tran

© 2012 Phuong Tran

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos used under a Creative Commons license

References:

–  Department of Gardens and Green Areas, Civic and Municipal Affairs Bureau of Macao Special Administrative Region, South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Science 2005. Flora of Macao (Volume 1). Macao, SAR: Author