anb9011
Cypress Knees in Lake Seminole, Florida
This picture was taken at Lake Seminole in southern Georgia over spring break. I believe the trees to the left are cypress trees. Cypress trees have several variations and belong to the Cupressaceae family. Different species are found all over the world, but Taxodium ascendens, commonly known as the pond cypress and are found throughout the southeastern United States. Pong cypress are known for growing in/near water and for having attached stumps, known as knees. Knees are stumps that grow upwards through the water from the roots of the tree. It is not completely known what purpose this interesting adaptation serves, but scientists believe that may aid with capturing oxygen, absorbing nutrients, and storing carbohydrates. It is also believed that knees vary height due to water level and the soil density. These stumps can be hazards for swimmers and boaters, as they can be a few inches under the surface water level. Cypress knees also provide shelter and hiding spots for several fish species that inhabit Lake Seminole. Taller knees and other tree stumps also provide homes for large birds of prey. I did have a camera with me on the lake, but I witnessed a bald eagle catch a fish and return to its nest on top of a tree stump in the middle of a channel.
www.lewisginter.org/trees-with-knees/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxodium_ascendens
Cypress Knees in Lake Seminole, Florida
This picture was taken at Lake Seminole in southern Georgia over spring break. I believe the trees to the left are cypress trees. Cypress trees have several variations and belong to the Cupressaceae family. Different species are found all over the world, but Taxodium ascendens, commonly known as the pond cypress and are found throughout the southeastern United States. Pong cypress are known for growing in/near water and for having attached stumps, known as knees. Knees are stumps that grow upwards through the water from the roots of the tree. It is not completely known what purpose this interesting adaptation serves, but scientists believe that may aid with capturing oxygen, absorbing nutrients, and storing carbohydrates. It is also believed that knees vary height due to water level and the soil density. These stumps can be hazards for swimmers and boaters, as they can be a few inches under the surface water level. Cypress knees also provide shelter and hiding spots for several fish species that inhabit Lake Seminole. Taller knees and other tree stumps also provide homes for large birds of prey. I did have a camera with me on the lake, but I witnessed a bald eagle catch a fish and return to its nest on top of a tree stump in the middle of a channel.
www.lewisginter.org/trees-with-knees/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taxodium_ascendens