Taxodium mucronatum – Montezuma Bald Cypress

General Information Common Name  Montezuma Bald Cypress Scientific Name  Taxodium mucronatum Sun Tolerance  Full Sun Height  up to 40 m (up to 130 ft) Spread  10 - 20 m (33 - 66 ft) Growth Rate  Slow Bloom Time  Winter Color  Green, Flower Color  Brown Type  Tree Native  USA.

Classification Kingdom  Plantae – Plants Subkingdom  Tracheobionta – Vascular plants Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants Division  Coniferophyta – Conifers Class  Pinopsida Subclass  Order  Pinales Family  Cupressaceae – Cypress Family Genus  Taxodium  –  Cypress Species  T. mucronatum

Taxodium mucronatum – Montezuma Bald Cypress

Texodium mucronatum commonly known as Ahuehuete Cypress also known as Montezuma Bald Cypress or Montezuma Cypress, some area called Sabino. It is native to Mexico and Guatemala. It is National tree of Mexico.

T. mecronatum is evergreen to partly deciduous foliage tree. It is a large tree, growing up to 40 m (130 ft) in height and the trunk is 1-3 m (3.3 – 10 ft) in diameter. The leaves are medium to light green in color. They are spirally arranged but twisted at the base to lie it two horizontal ranks, 1 – 2 cm (0.4 – 0.8 in) long and 1 – 2 mm broad.  

Both sexes’ flowers are found in the same tree. The male flowers are borne in long racemes, whereas common Bald cypress is deciduous and the male flowers are in short clusters but Montezuma Bald is in long clusters that resemble oak catkins, 15 – 30 cm (6 – 12 in) long, with the individual flowers spread out spirally along the central thread-like stem; color is brown. Female cones are small and inconspicuous swellings on the previous year's branchlets. The globose cone, 1.5 – 2.5 cm (0.6 – 1 in) long and 1 – 2 cm (0.4 – 0.8 in) broad, surface rough, green and glaucous at first, but turning brown and woody when matured.

Reddish-brown, smooth on young trunks and branches, but developing shredding scales and, eventually thick, rough ridges and fissures on older trees. Unlike Bald Cypress and Pond Cypress, Montezuma Cypress rarely produces cypress knees from the roots.

Montezuma cypress is the national tree of Mexico. It is mainly plant as ornamental tree since very long time ago.  It is frequently cultivated in Mexican parks and gardens. The wood used make house beams and furniture. This tree has a great medical value. The local people used its resin to treat gout, ulcers, skin disease, wounds, and toothaches. The bark and wood also used as medic. The leaves acted as relaxant and could help reduce itching.

Taxodium mucronatum – Montezuma Bald Cypress

Young Plant of Montezuma Bald Cypress

Montezuma Bald Cypress Young Plants

Taxodium mucronatum Young Plant

Leaves of Montezuma Bald Cypress

Taxodium mucronatum Leaves

Montezuma Bald Cypress Leaves

Male Flowers of Montezuma Bald Cypress

Taxodium mucronatum Male Flowers

Montezuma Bald Cypress Male Flowers 

Female Cone of Montezuma Bald Cypress

Taxodium mucronatum Female Cones

Bark of Montezuma Bald Cypress

Taxodium mucronatum Bark

Montezuma Bald Cypress Bark

Log of Montezuma Bald Cypress

Taxodium mucronatum Log

Ornamental Plants of Montezuma Bald Cypress

Taxodium mucronatum Ornamental Plant

Taxodium mucronatum Log

Taxodium mucronatum – Montezuma Bald Cypress

Logs of Montezuma Bald Cypress

Taxodium mucronatum – Montezuma Bald Cypress

Taxodium mucronatum – Montezuma Bald Cypress

Taxodium mucronatum – Montezuma Bald Cypress in Fall

Taxodium mucronatum – Montezuma Bald Cypress

Taxodium mucronatum – Montezuma Bald Cypress

Taxodium mucronatum – Montezuma Bald Cypress

Taxodium mucronatum – Montezuma Bald Cypress

Taxodium mucronatum – Montezuma Bald Cypress

 

Video of Montezuma Bald Cypress:

 

Taxodium ascendens - Pond Cypress

General Information Common Name  Pond Cypress Scientific Name  Taxodium ascendens Sun Tolerance  Full Sun Height  15 - 18 m (50 - 60 ft) Spread  6 - 10 m (20 - 33 ft) Growth Rate  Slow Bloom Time  Winter Color  Green, Flower Color  Brown Type  Tree Native  USA.

Classification Kingdom  Plantae – Plants Subkingdom  Tracheobionta – Vascular plants Superdivision Spermatophyta – Seed plants Division  Coniferophyta – Conifers Class  Pinopsida Subclass  Order  Pinales Family  Cupressaceae – Cypress Family Genus  Taxodium  –  Cypress Species  T. ascendens

Taxodium ascendens - Pond Cypress

Taxodium ascendens commonly known as Pond Cypress is native to North American the southeastern United States, from southern Delaware to southeastern Louisiana and south into Florida except for the Florida Keys. It is a long living tree, this plant is estimated at 1000 years. This figure may be an underestimate, as The Senator, until recently growing in Longwood, Florida's Big Tree Park, was estimated to be over 3,400 years old.

Pond Cypress slow growing average tree grows 15 – 18 m (50 – 60 ft) in height. It has a narrower crown, is smaller, and has a more open habit. The bark is a paler gray color. Like Bald Cypresses, Pond Cypresses growing in water have a usually growth trait called cypress knees; these are woody limb pneumatophores sent above the water from the roots, perhaps enabling this plant to inhale air in habitat with flooded soil. The trunk is expanded at the base, even on young trees, assisting the tree in anchoring in the soft, muddy soil. This tree will grow best in a moist to wet area. Ideally it prefers slight acidity but will tolerate any moisture retentive soil. Best in full sun though can tolerate some light shade. The area where still black-water rivers, ponds and swamps without silt-rich flood deposits. It predominates in cypress dome habitats.

T. ascendens, is deciduous tree. The leaves are green in color but turn an attractive light brown in fall before dropping but the bare branches and light brown, ridged bark provide much landscape interest during the winter. It is very similar to Bald cypress, but the branchlets are usually ascending and the leaves are appressed instead of spreading laterally. Intergrades are not unusual and Pond cypress is sometimes considered a variety of Bald cypress. The leaves are 3 – 10 mm long, slenderer and are on shoots that tend to be erect rather than spreading.

Like as Bald Cypress, Pond Cypress also monoecious, so that both sexes’ flowers are found in the same tree. The male and female flowers forming on slender, tassel-like structures near the edge of branchlets. The male and female strobili are produced from buds formed in late autumn, with pollination in early winter. The male catkins are about 10 cm (4 in) long. The young seed cones are green and become grayish brown when mature. They are globular in shape and not over 2.5 cm (1 in) in diameter.

T. ascendens, also plant as ornamental plant in tub or in the park near the pond. 

Taxodium ascendens - Pond Cypress

Young Plants of Pond Cypress

Leaves of Pond Cypress

Taxodium ascendens Leaves

Pond Cypress Leaves

Pond Cypress in Fall

Male Flowers of Pond Cypress

Taxodium ascendens Male Flowers

Pond Cypress Mature Male Flowers

Female Cones of Pond Cypress

Taxodium ascendens Female cones

Pond Cypress Conese

Pond Cypress Male Flowers and Cones are in same tree

Bark of Pond Cypress

Taxodium ascendens Log

Logs of Pond Cypress

Ornamental Plants of Pond Cypress

Pond Cypress in Park

Taxodium ascendens Ornamental Plants

Taxodium ascendens in fall

Taxodium ascendens - Pond Cypress

Taxodium ascendens - Pond Cypress

Taxodium ascendens - Pond Cypress

Taxodium ascendens - Pond Cypress

Taxodium ascendens - Pond Cypress

Taxodium ascendens - Pond Cypress

Taxodium ascendens - Pond Cypress

Taxodium ascendens - Pond Cypress

Video of Pond Cypress: