baldcypress
Taxodium distichum
Baldcypress is a large, deciduous tree with a mature height of 50 to 70 feet and 20 to 30 feet wide. This unique conifer loses it needles annually. It grows best in wet areas, but can survive on dry, compacted soils. The cones are round and golf ball sized when fully developed. Flowers are not showy. Fall color is yellow to golden brown. Some cultivars of note are ‘Apache Chief’ which has a wider than normal crown and ‘Pendens’ which has a drooping habit.
Plant illustration by Dale Larison, Missouri Department of Conservation
Range map modified from USDA Forest Service Silvics of North America Web site - www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs
/silvics_manual/Volume_1
/taxodium/distichum.htm
Free Trees!
That’s correct - Free Trees! In partnership with the National Tree Trust, Ameren, Lambert-St.Louis International Airport, and MDC, Forest Releaf of Missouri obtains bareroot seedlings, pots and grows them for one year, then distributes them to any organization agreeing to the terms of planting on public or non-profit property, maintaining trees, and reporting back on the condition and survival of the trees.
The fall distribution was announced the second week of August and will continue as long trees are available. Several communities were contacted by mail at this earlier time. Specie selection is mostly native trees, all suitable for southwest Missouri. If you are interested in asking for trees, contact Forest Releaf of Missouri at: 1-888-473-5323, www.moreleaf.org, or moreleaf@anet-stl.com.
Fall Color
Leaves will be changing color soon. Sights of yellow, orange, red, and brown will appear replacing the green of spring and summer.
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Leaves are green due to the chlorophyll contained in the leaves cells. Chlorophyll absorbs sunlight and uses that energy to convert water and carbon dioxide into sugars and starches, food for the tree. As the days become shorter and cooler, less chlorophyll is produced by the tree and the carotenoids, that were always present, become visible. They guarantee the yellows and oranges we see each fall. The brilliant reds and purples we see are not present in the tree leaves during the summer, but are created when sugars created during warm, sunny days are trapped in the leaves during cool nights chemically creating the red anthocyanins. If either the cool nights or sunny days is missing, the anthocyanins and red color will not form. Other factors that can affect fall color is drought where the tree drops leaves before they change color or an early freeze that kills the leaves before they can change.
There are many scenic drives and walks in Missouri. Take a tour and enjoy the fall colors. If you want suggestions, MDC offices have the free publication “Fall Colors of Missouri” available or you may download the Adobe Acrobat file at: www.conservation.state.mo.us/documents/nathis/seasons/fall/brochure.pdf
Branching Out Workshop Series for Public Employees
Branching Out is a workshop series for public employees and volunteers. The three workshops will provide individuals responsible for public tree care basic knowledge to manage their public trees.
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The first workshop is October 29, 2003 covering tree pruning, tree biology, hiring arborists, and introduce the Tree City USA Program and the International Society of Arboriculture. The second workshop is December 17, 2003 covering tree roots, hazard tree identification, and construction around trees. The third workshop is February 25, 2004 covering tree selection and planting, planting location ideas, and insect and disease diagnoses and management.
Each workshop will be held in the Jasper County Youth Fair Building in Municipal Park, Carthage. Registration is required and a $10 fee is charged to cover lunch, building rental, snacks, and materials. If you do not receive a flyer announcing the first workshop and want to attend, please contact Jon Skinner at 417-629-3423 or Jon.Skinner@mdc.mo.us
Email Address Change
MDC is changing the way email addresses are currently to the new all State of Missouri government standard. On September 15, Jon Skinner's new email address will be: Jon.Skinner@mdc.mo.gov. Please update your address book. My current and soon to be old email address listed in this and older issues still works.