What is a cypress tree?
A cypress tree is one of many conifers in the family Cupressaceae, as well as many others with the name “cypress” in common, and it is a wide range of conifers. The foliage of many cypress trees is needle-like, the trunk is filled with acorn seeds, and the seeds themselves resemble pinecones.
Can you eat Cypress berries?
Cypress Family Trees Two trees that don't bear the name "cypress" in their common name -- but are considered part of the Cypress, or Cupressaceae, family -- are considered edible. One-seed juniper (Juniperus monosperma) has berries that you can eat raw or cooked, or ground as flour. The inner bark has also been eaten raw or cooked.
Do cypress trees have male and female flowers?
The pollen from male flowers fertilizes female flowers and produces viable seeds. Bald cypress trees are monoecious plants, which means that each tree produces both male and female flowers. The trees develop their male and female flowers in winter, resulting in seeds the following October and November.
How many species of cypress trees are there?
Most cypress species are used as ornamental trees and plants in parks, gardens, and around temples, while others are developed for their durable timber. The genus Cupressus includes 16-25 extant species of cypress that are divided into two clades – Old World species and New World species.
What is a cypress tree?
Cypress is one of the several species of conifers that mainly constitute the genus Cupressus, as well as some of the other genera belonging to the family Cupressaceae. As with most conifers, the extensive cultivation of cypress trees has produced a variety of forms, with different sizes and colors.
How many types of cypress trees are there?
List of Different Types of Cypress Trees. The genus Cupressus includes 16-25 extant species of cypress that are divided into two clades – Old World species and New World species. Old World species generally have cones characterized by more scales (8-14), each of which has a short and wide ridge.
What is a Leyland Cypress?
A fast-growing hybrid produced from Monterey cypress and Nootka cypress, called Leyland cypress (referred to as leylandii), is extensively used for decorating gardens.
What are the different types of cypress trees?
Some of the cypress species that belong to genus other than Cupressus include Montezuma cypress, bald cypress, northern white cedar, Japanese cedar, giant sequoia, dawn redwood, and California redwood.
How long are leaves?
Leaves: Scale-like, opposite pairs intersect each other, about 2-6 mm long
What are some edible trees?
Two trees that don't bear the name "cypress" in their common name -- but are considered part of the Cypress, or Cupressaceae, family -- are considered edible. One-seed juniper (Juniperus monosperma) has berries that you can eat raw or cooked, or ground as flour. The inner bark has also been eaten raw or cooked. The tree grows naturally in scrublands in western portions of North America, from USDA zones 4 through 9. The seeds of the oriental arborvitae (Thuja orientalis, syns. Biota orientalis or Platycladus orientalis) are also edible, although the leaves are toxic. This spreading evergreen, sometimes called biota or thuja, grows in USDA zones 6 through 9. The seeds are quite bitter unless soaked in several changes of water before thorough cooking.
What are some edible wild plants?
The Peterson's Field Guide edition "Edible Wild Plants" particularly recommends pine (Pinus spp.) and spruce (Picea spp.) trees. The eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), for example, grows in USDA zones 3 through 8. You can simmer its needles for a vitamin-rich tea, or boil the tree's young cones and shoots as vegetables. Varieties such as Norway spruce (Picea abies) also make acceptable cooked vegetables when shoots are young, while you can process the inner bark for flour and the pitch for chewing gum.
What is the Italian Cypress?
Italian cypress is the narrow evergreen tree that thrives in U.S. Department of Agriculture zones 7 through 10. Given this one citation, along with the absence of cypress from wild food books and databases, it makes sense to avoid eating any part of a tree with "cypress" in its common name.
Is summer cypress a tree?
Summer Cypress. Summer cypress (Bassia scoparia, syn. Kochia scoparia) is not a tree, but rather an annual herb that grows in the wild, and is also cultivated in ornamental and herb gardens. PFAF rates it as "reasonably useful" as an edible plant.
Is cypress edible?
Most botanicals referred to as cypress are not edible. But the larger collection of trees known commonly as the cypress family does contain some edibles, and there is even an edible annual plant known as summer cypress.
Who is Ellen Douglas?
Ellen Douglas has written on food, gardening, education and the arts since 1992. Douglas has worked as a staff reporter for the Lakeville Journal newspaper group. Previously, she served as a communication specialist in the nonprofit field. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Connecticut.
How long do bald cypress seeds stay in water?
The seeds must remain submerged in water, or stay in a wet, swampy area, for one to three months. This helps the seed coats swell and soften.
What are male cypress flowers?
Male flowers are groups of tiny purple flowers that grow in drooping clusters called catkins. These catkins grow up to 10 inches long. They are quite noticeable on the trees, as the deciduous bald cypress loses its leaves in the winter when the flowers are in bloom. Male flowers produce pollen that is carried on the wind to the female flowers.
How tall does a cypress tree get?
Bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) is a deciduous conifer that grows in U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 4 to 9. It can reach 130 feet tall, developing prominent roots or “knees” above the ground.
When do cypress trees produce flowers?
Bald cypress trees are monoecious plants, which means that each tree produces both male and female flowers. The trees develop their male and female flowers in winter, resulting in seeds the following October and November.
How many seeds does a scale produce?
When fertilized, each scale produces one or two triangular seeds. Mature seeds have a thick covering and are coated with a sticky, red resin. The seeds also have thin projections, or flanges, on each side. These flanges are too small to serve as an aid to dispersal, as the seeds are too heavy to be carried by the wind.
Where do bald cypress trees grow?
Germination. The natural environment of the bald cypress provides the elements necessary for seed dispersal and germination. These trees grow in wet, swampy areas that are prone to flooding during seasonal rains. They also grow along shorelines.
How long do seeds need to be submerged before germinating?
The seeds cannot germinate under water, but they can remain submerged for up to 30 months before germination. Once the waters recede, the softened seeds are left buried in the wet soil. The seeds will then be able to sprout and grow. The water must remain below the leaves of the young plants or they will die.
1. Blue Cypress Tree
Blue cypress trees get their name from the bluish-green color of their leaves. It’s a popular landscaping tree for both residential and commercial areas. The Blue cypress is also very common in Southwestern United States and Northern Mexico. The Blue cypress tree has a very slow growth rate and is quite hardy.
2. Dwarf Cypress Tree
The Dwarf cypress tree is a small and delicate tree, which can be found in the Southeastern United States. It is a short, flat-topped evergreen with a greenish color. At maturity, these trees can grow to about 20-30 feet in height. The leaves are needle-like, and they grow low along the ground.
3. Bald Cypress Tree
Bald cypress trees have very few branches. They can be found in swampy areas, like Florida or Louisiana. In the summertime, they tend to turn a yellowish hue. Bald cypress trees have a slow growth rate. They have often been used to make cabinets, fences, doors, and more.
4. MacNab Cypress Tree
The MacNab cypress tree can grow up to 40 feet high and is native to the United States. It has a thick trunk, large leaves, and dark green foliage. The bark of this tree consists of gray-black layers. This tree can be found in parts of Florida, Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, and Oklahoma.
5. Italian Cypress Tree
The Italian cypress tree is a type of cypress that has a small, rounded crown, aromatic wood, and dark green leaves. It is native to southern Europe and North Africa. The tree can grow to a height of 65-80 feet and is widely used in landscape projects. The Italian cypress tree also has a lovely scent.
6. Lemon Cypress Tree
Lemon cypresses were originally imported from the Mediterranean region, where they grow in shallow and damp soil. They’re typically found along rivers and wetlands since their roots can tolerate being wet for long periods of time. Lemon cypress trees are low-lying and have a beautiful green coloration when they mature.
7. Mediterranean Cypress Tree
Mediterranean cypress trees are plentiful in the Mediterranean Basin and grow best on dry, sandy soil. These trees are mostly evergreen, with large, dark green leaves and a long, slender gray-black trunk. Mediterranean cypress trees grow fast and have a lifespan of between 50 and 150 years.
What do cypress cones look like?
Bald cypress cones don’t actually look like cones at all. Their cone structure is round and about one inch (2.5 centimeters) in diameter. When cones appear in autumn, they are tough and green, but they become woody as the season progresses. Each cone is made of a number of scales, and each scale is associated with two triangular seeds. Seeds are eaten by wild turkey, wood ducks, evening grosbeak, water birds, and squirrels. The seeds that escape predation are dispersed by floodwaters. Bald cypresses are slow-growing, long-lived trees that regularly reach up to 600 years in age.
Why are bald cypress trees called bald cypress trees?
In fact, they get the name “bald” cypress because they drop their leaves so early in the season. Their fall colors are tan, cinnamon, and fiery orange.
What are the roles of bald cypresses?
Since they tend to grow along rivers and in wetlands, they are excellent at soaking up floodwaters and preventing erosion. They also trap pollutants and prevent them from spreading. Frogs, toads, and salamanders use bald cypress swamps as breeding grounds .
How do pneumatophores grow?
Pneumatophores grow from horizontal roots just below the surface and protrude upward from the ground or water. Since bald cypresses often grow in swampy conditions, it’s thought that the pneumatophores function to transport air to drowned roots underground. They also might help to anchor the tree.
How tall is a bald cypress tree?
Growing up to 120 feet (36.5 meters) tall with a trunk three to six feet (0.9 to 1.8 meters) in diameter, bald cypresses are frequently referred to as giants. (They can’t quite compare to their redwood relatives, though, which reach over 300 feet [91 meters] in height.)
Why are bald cypress trees harvested less?
However, these days they are harvested less for timber because they are slow-growing, and there are less of them than there once were . Another reason is these trees usually grow in wetlands, which causes difficulty for loggers. Bald cypresses have very important roles in the wild.
What is a bald cypress known for?
Branches are often draped with clumps of Spanish moss. The feature that bald cypresses are really known for, though, is their “knees. ”. These aren’t like human knees, but a special kind of root. The technical term for the knee is pneumatophore, which means “air-bearing.”.
