The bald cypress is a native tree to the southeastern United States and are found all along the blackwater rivers of South Carolina. These trees are very photogenic due to their beautiful shapes and form, with branches that are often draped with clumps of Spanish moss. Cypress trees are well-adapted to wet conditions along riverbanks and swamps, where soak up floodwaters, prevent erosion and provide for wildlife habitat.
They are known for growing “knees”, a special kind of root called a pneumatophore, which means “air-bearing.” Pneumatophores grow from horizontal roots just below the surface and protrude upward from the ground or water. It is thought that the pneumatophores function to transport air to drowned roots underground. Photo © copyright by Dr. Edward Mikol.