The Bald Cypress, Taxodium distichum, is a lofty, deciduous conifer of slender, pyramidal habit. A stately tree, for parks, yards. Landscapers and land owners use this tree in wet areas. Bald Cypress trees have moderate water requirements. In swamps, it develops large flares at the base of the trunk, the so-called "cypress knees". In the fall, the Bald Cypress leaves may turn a rich brown. The needle like leaves are dark green in the spring and summer. The "cypress knees" only develop when grown in or near water for most of the year. This species is very adaptable to wet and dry sites and thrives in many soil types.