Taxodium ascendens
Taxodium ascendens | |
---|---|
Foliage | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Gymnospermae |
Division: | Pinophyta |
Class: | Pinopsida |
Order: | Cupressales
|
Family: | Cupressaceae |
Genus: | Taxodium |
Species: | T. ascendens
|
Binomial name | |
Taxodium ascendens Brongn. |
Taxodium ascendens, also known as pond cypress,
Description
Taxodium ascendens is classified as a perennial gymnosperm that is native to the southeastern United States.
Distribution
This species is native to the southeastern United States, from southeastern Virginia to southeastern Louisiana and south into Florida except for the Florida Keys.[citation needed] Stunted individuals of pond cypress are notable in the dwarf cypress savanna of the Everglades National Park.[citation needed] Taxodium ascendens is most frequently found in the southeastern United States ranging from Virginia to Louisiana.[8]
Habitat
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. The pond cypress preferred habitat is along the banks of ponds and lakes where the water is stagnant.[9] This tree is native to southern swamps, bayous and rivers, and is known to tolerate extended periods of intense flooding.[10] Pond cypress are most frequently found in isolated depressions fed by nutrient poor, shallow ground water.[7] Taxodium ascendens grows easily in average, medium to wet, moisture-retentive but reasonably well-drained soils in full sun. It prefers moist, acidic, sandy soils, but tolerates a wide range of soil conditions ranging from average moisture soils to wet soils in standing water.[10]
Taxonomy
Taxodium ascendens was discovered and identified by botanist Adolphe-Théodore Brongniart in 1833.[11] The pond cypress is also known by other synonyms "Taxodium distichum var. imbricatum (Nutt.) Croom"[12] and "Taxodium distichum var. ascendens (Brongn.) Mast."[13]
Uses
Taxodium ascendens is typically used for ornamental purposes or decoration in more urban environments unlike the bald cypress which can be used in heavy duty construction.[4][14] Pond cypress are also used in wetland restoration and enhancement.[4]
Ecology
Like many other large semiaquatic plants, Taxodium ascendens roots and trunk provides structural complexity to shelter to young aquatic animals such as the larvae amphibians and juvenile fish. Specifically the endangered flatwoods salamander will only lay their eggs in dry ponds populated with Taxodium ascendens.[7]
Taxodium ascendens is susceptible to fires during the drier arid seasons where ponds lose the majority of their water but these trees have developed a thicker bark to better survive these conditions.[3]
Etymology
The varietal name "imbricatum" means overlapping, in reference to the manner in which the leaves lie on the twigs.[9] The term “ascendens” suggests the leaves that point or grow upward in an arching or curving fashion.[9]
Conservation Status
The pond cypress is considered "apparently secure" (S4) in North Carolina, "critically imperiled" (S1) in Virginia, and "exotic" in Delaware.[15]
References
- ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0 - Taxodium ascendens, Pond Cypress". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 6 May 2020.
- ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Taxodium ascendens". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
- ^ a b "USDA Plants Database". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ a b c "Florida Native Plant Society (FNPS)". www.fnps.org. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ "Year of the Tree: Bald Cypress or Pond Cypress? | NC State Parks". www.ncparks.gov. 2022-09-01. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ "ENH-777/ST619: Taxodium ascendens: Pondcypress". edis.ifas.ufl.edu. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ a b c d Communications, IFAS. "Pond Cypress - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences - University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences - UF/IFAS". programs.ifas.ufl.edu. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ "Taxodium ascendens, T. distichum". www.fs.usda.gov. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ a b c Milligan, Lara (2018-03-30). "The Great Cypress Debate". UF/IFAS Extension Pinellas County. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ a b "Taxodium distichum var. imbricarium (Pond Cypress) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ "Taxodium ascendens Brongn. | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science". Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 2023-12-05.
- ^ "Taxodium distichum var. imbricarium x Taxodium muc". CABI Compendium. 2022-01-07. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ "Taxodium distichum var. ascendens | International Plant Names Index". www.ipni.org. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ "Bald Cypress (Taxodium distichum)". tpwd.texas.gov. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- ^ "NatureServe Explorer 2.0". explorer.natureserve.org. Retrieved 2023-11-15.
- Flora of North America (as T. distichum var. imbricarium)
- Floridata
- File:The Senator Tree Longwood Florida.JPG