Contains 2 accepted taxa overall.
Characteristics
The taxa in this genus are sometimes recognized as varieties (e.g. var. distichum and var. imbricarium). Part of the taxonomic difficulty may be that the taxa often appear distinct, while sometimes they appear to intergrade (Tsumara et al. 1999; Lickey & Walker 2002; Lickey et al. 2002; Denny & Arnold 2007; Adams et al. 2012). Cypress knees are light and porous and have little bark near the apex. A study by Martin & Francke (2015) found that during inundation knees exposed to air provide significantly more oxygen to the roots below, but they note that the knees may have additional advantages such as increased tree stability and trapping of detritus and nutrients.
Classification
Citation
TAXODIUM Richard, Ann. Mus. Natl. Hist. Nat. 16: 298. 1810.
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TYPE: Taxodium distichum (Linnaeus) Richard (Cupressus disticha Linnaeus)
Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Herbarium Specimens | Status | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Taxodium ascendens | POND-CYPRESS | Native OBL (NWPL) D (WAP) OBL (DEP) | ||
| Taxodium distichum | BALD-CYPRESS | Native OBL (NWPL) D (WAP) OBL (DEP) |
[Family identification key]
1. Leafy branchlets vertically ascending; leaves subulate, appressed to ascending, spirally arranged, not twisted basally
1. Leafy branchlets spreading; leaves linear, spreading to ascending, appearing distichous, basally twisted
Genus Synonyms
| Synonym | Full Citation | Basionym | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cuprespinnata | Cuprespinnata J. Nelson, Pinaceae 61. 1866. | TYPE: Cuprespinnata disticha (Linnaeus) J. Nelson (Cupressus disticha Linnaeus) Lectotypified by Florin, Taxon 5: 189. 1956. = Taxodium Richard 1810, by lectotypification. | |
| Schubertia | Schubertia Mirbel, Nouv. Bull. Sci. Soc. Philom. Paris 3: 123. 1812, nom. rej. vs. Schubertia Martius 1824. | TYPE: Schubertia disticha (Linnaeus) Mirbel (Cupressus disticha Linnaeus) = Taxodium Richard 1810. |