Taxodium distichurn L.

Description :

This plant is s a deciduous Tree growing to 30m tall. It is a slow slow-growing plant. The bark is greyish to reddish brown. The leaves are needle-like leaves are 1.2-2cm long, and leaves are alternate, simple, alternate, green, with entire margins. In autumn, the leaves turn into copper red or yellow. This species is monoecious (with male and female flowers on a single plant).  Flowering month in April and the seeds mature in October. Cones are present, male cones appear on panicles and are 10-14cm long while female cones are round, and green when young and as they mature they turn brown and are 2-4cm in diameter. They have from 20-30 spirally organized four-sided scales, each having one or rarely three triangular seeds. Each cone contains 20-40 large seeds. The seeds are 5-10mm long. It can tolerate atmospheric pollution.

Distribution :

It is native to the south-eastern US. Tough this tree has modified itself and can grow in a wide range of soil types. It has also been cultivated in Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Italy, Romania and Uruguay. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil and can grow in water.

Uses :

The resin in the cones is used as pain-relieving for injuries and cuts. The durable, straight grained wood has many uses like in the construction of boats, houses, flooring, barrels and fences. This tree is also widely planted as an ornamental tree.

 

 

(Koeser et al., 2017)