User:Amgehron19/Taxodium ascendens

Taxodium ascendens

Introduction

Taxodium ascendens or the Pond Cypress is a perennial gymnosperm that is found in the southeastern United States. The pond cypress is similar too and often confused with Taxodium distichum or the Bald Cypress.

Amgehron19/Taxodium ascendens
Foliage
Conservation status
Secure (NatureServe)
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.

Description

Cypresses are known for their prominent "knees" and buttressed trunks that define the species however Taxodium ascendens is less likely to have "knees" than Taxodium distichum. Taxodium ascendens is classified as a perennial gymnosperm that is native to the southeastern United States. Pond cypress are typically between 50 - 85 ft tall and 15-30 ft wide. The pond cypress leaves are more needle-shaped (like the shaft of an awl or a screwdriver), in a spiral arrangement that stays close to the stem. The leaves are deciduous, simple, alternate, awl-like needles. Its cones are round, ovulate, between 1/2 - 1 1/4 inches long. Due to the dry nature of the habitat for the pond cypress, it has developed thicker, fire resistant bark. Their seeds require fire before they can sprout.

Taxonomy

Taxodium ascendens is a gymnosperm that falls into the Cupressaceae family since it produces cones. The pond cypress is also known by other synonyms "Taxodium distichum var. imbricatum (Nutt.) Croom" and "Taxodium distichum var. ascendens (Brongn.) Mast."

Distribution and Habitat

Taxodium ascendens was discovered and identified by its original authority Adolphe-Théodore Brongniart in 1833.

Taxodium ascendens is most frequently found in the South Eastern United States ranging from Virginia to Louisiana. The pond cypress' preferred habitat is along the banks of ponds and lakes where the water is stagnant. This tree is native to southern swamps, bayous and rivers, and is known to tolerate extended periods of intense flooding. Pond cypress are most frequently found in isolated depressions feed by nutrient poor, shallow ground water. 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.

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. Pond cypress are also used in wetland restoration and enhancement.

Ecological Benefits

Like many other large semi aquatic plants, Taxodium ascendens provides shelter to young aquatic animals, prevents predatory fish from getting established and this allows frogs and other amphibians to thrive. Specifically the endangered flatwood's salamander will only lay their eggs in dry ponds populated with Taxodium ascendens.

Etymology

The variety name (imbricarium) means “overlapping” in reference to the manner in which the leaves lie on the twigs. The term “ascendens” hints at the leaves that point or grow upward in an arching or curving fashion.

Fire Ecology

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 instances. The pond cypress also utilizes fires in order to let their seeds sprout.

Conservation Status

The pond cypress is considered "apparently secure" (S4) in North Carolina, "critically imperiled" (S1) in Virginia, and "exotic" in Delaware.