The “[FRUIT]”, a cone, unlike that of true firs, hangs downward and is easily identified by the protruding [bracts], or “straws.” The mature cones are 2 to 4 inches long, and brownish-red.
The WOOD is moderately light, reddish tinted and surrounded by nearly white [sapwood]. It varies widely in respect to density, quality and width of sapwood. Much high grade plywood is made from this species. Young Douglas-firs are sold as Christmas trees.
BALDCYPRESS
Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich.
Baldcypress grows in swamps which are flooded for prolonged periods, and on wet stream banks and bottomlands. It occurs in East Texas west to the Nueces River. The straight trunk has numerous ascending branches, and narrow [conical] outline. In old age the tree generally has a broad [fluted], or buttressed base, a smooth slowly tapering trunk and a broad, open, flat top of a few heavy branches and numerous small branchlets. Virgin-growth timber attains heights up to 130 feet and diameters up to 10 feet.
BALDCYPRESS (Cone and leaves, seven-eighths natural size)
The [BARK] is silvery to cinnamon-red, finely divided by numerous longitudinal [fissures]. The light green LEAVES about ½ to ¾ inch long, are arranged in feather-like fashion along two sides of small branchlets which fall in the autumn with the leaves still attached.
The “[FRUIT]”, a rounded cone, is about one inch in diameter, with thick irregular [scales].
The WOOD is light, soft, easily worked, with a light sap wood and dark-brown [heartwood]. It is particularly durable in contact with the soil. Cypress is in demand for exterior trim of buildings, greenhouse planking, boat and ship building, shingles, posts, poles, and crossties.