Bald Cypress

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bald_cypress

I put this as the header photo for a particular reason. I think whenever I come up with bald cypress (otherwise known as Taxodium distichum), I think I'll likely think of bogs and marshes. A fan of wet places (or, at least, it seems perfectly fine being in those types of places; the ones on campus aren't exactly flooded, so it seems to be fine either way) it puts up little 'knees'. They were once thought to help the plant 'breath' - to collect or let off different gases depending on its needs - but that school of thought is out the window. Currently, it's thought that these growths are to keep the soil from washing away too far from the roots, like a truss.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bald_cypress

Pyramidal in shape, the tree has needles year round but is not evergreen: they yellow and dry out, then fall off. They come back the next year, though; this process will scare some people, making them think they're little Christmas tree had died off. 

The tree is about a zone 6, and can reach up to around D.C. and Philadelphia before it just gets too cold - but it always keeps to the coast.

The tree is pretty great, though, and lends a nice, soft pine kind of feel to the landscape. It seems to grow more up than out (hence the pyramidal shape), so it isn't great for shade. I do like seeing them on campus: they seem to stick out from all the other trees. It's also the state tree of Louisiana as of 1963. I don't know about you, but when I think of Louisiana I think of swamps.

The needles give it a very soft appearance, and they feel similar to how they appear. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bald_cypress

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bald_cypress

The cones are little (not near the size you think of squirrels chewing on from those huge pines). 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bald_cypress

The bark is shallow, though, and very easily damaged. It does appear very delicate, especially in comparison to things such as the maples I've posted about. It looks flaky.