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Bonsai nare-do-well
Join Date: Jan-2003
Location: Summerville SC
Country: USA
Posts: 4,653
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cypress knees
Been doing a lot of reading lately on the Bald cypress. (Taxodium distichum ) Mostly bonsai publications.
They all seem to mention that the biggest charm with this tree is in its knees. Mostly I agree with this although I do think that what impresses me most about this specie is the foliage.
All the talk about the knees did get me to thinking though. Just where do they come from? Why are they there?
After much reading in both bonsai and regular horticultural publications I have come up with the three current official scientific theories. Not too sure which one is right but here they are. You take your pick on which one you like best.
1. They are there for gaseous exchange.
2. They help anchor the tree in the murky loose soil of the swamp.
3. They are a place for the tree to store starches above the water line.
All of these are good I guess but I do think that maybe it is a combination of all three. My opinion anyway.
But to this list I would like to add one more reason for them.
4. They make the tree look cooler than heck. I really like them.They are different and distinct to the specie.
This might not be the most scientific reason but it does satisfy my requirements ;o)
One thing I did notice in all my readingds was that the knees were only supposed to grow when the tree was in or near water. If it grew on the shore line then the knees were supposed to be on the water side. In the water they could pop on any side.
I am not too sure if I believe this.
There are a lot of cypress in my area . They are used extensively in landscaping here.
Maybe the cypress trees in South Carolina can't read. Not surprising considering our standing in the Sat scores ;o)
Seems like a lot of them will grow knees down here. No matter where they grow. Doesn't matter if the water is close by or not.
This tree is growing in the middle of a shopping mall parking lot. A good mile from the nearest water. ( the Ashley River)
Those funny looking things on the ground are in fact knees. This happens a lot in South Carolina. Landscapers are constantly cutting them off so people wont trip over them in the parking lots.
Not saying all the books are wrong. Just maybe the South Carolina cypress don't know squat about how they are supposed to grow. That is a bit embarrassing but I really don't know what to do about it. )
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