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CYPRESS, BALD

Taxodium distichum


A NOTE ABOUT CYPRESS SPECIES


Taxodium distichum of the family Cupressaceae, the cypress family. Also commonly sold in the USA as pond cypress.

I note that my samples show two significantly different end grain looks for Taxodium distichum but I can't yet say whether that is normal or indicates some mis-identification of the samples.

my samples:
NOTE: these pics were all taken in very bright incandescent lighting ("soft white" at 2700K)
colors will vary under other lighting conditions


bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) sample plank and end grain


end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of old growth bald cypress / Taxodium distichum --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank sold to me as bald cypress / Taxodium distichum but it doesn't look much like the piece directly above but looks a lot like the one directly below so either I have some mis-identification or there are significantly different looks to Taxodium distichum.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of bald cypress / Taxodium distichum --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


first face and the end grain of a sample of bald cypress / Taxodium distichum. This part of a collection which is discussed here: COLLECTION A


the second face, before and after slicing off 1/8" showing how the patina from aging is only surface deep.


end grain closeup and END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above.


both sides of a sample plank of bald cypress / Taxodium distichum --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


both sides of a sample plank of pond cypress / Taxodium distichum --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of pond cypress / Taxodium distichum --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by David Clark whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above


both sides of a sample plank of plantation grown bald cypress / Taxodium distichum --- HUGE enlargements are present. This sample was loaned to me by Mark Peet whom I thank for this and other contributions to the site.


end grain and end grain closeup of the piece directly above


END GRAIN UPDATE from directly above. A small amount of the orangish tint on this is due to the 1200 grit sandpaper depositing orange grit particles.



The Wood Book pics


flat cut, quartersawn, end grain
bald cypress (Taxodium distichum, also listed as black cypress, red cypress and white cypress) from The Wood Book --- both levels of enlargement are available for each of the 3 views

web pics:


tree section of bald cypress


plank listed as cypress / Taxodium distichum


Planks listed as bald cypress / Taxodium distichum


plank listed as pond cypress / Taxodium distichum. The size is approximately 3" x 1.25" and both levels of enlargement are present so the grain shows up very nicely


bald cypress planks


plank listed as "native" bald cypress, but I have never seen the "native" designation before so belive it might just be a vendor's made-up name


plank listed as yellow cypress / bald cypress


veneer listed as cypress / Taxodium distichum


bald cypress bowl