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| Bald cypress is best known as a member of southern swamp forests, where it is an exceptionally stately, picturesque plant. Of particular interest is the trunk, which on larger specimens will be highly fluted (buttressed) and swollen at the base, then rapidly tapered upwards. The presence of "knees," which possibly represent modified air-intake structures, are usually present only in wet settings. However, it is readily adaptable to a number of soil types, even dry ones. Native habitat is Delaware to Florida, west to southern Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas and Louisiana. |