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Cypress Knees

Callitris sp.

Photo by Neil Ross
Published on Project Noah
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-27.498, 153.017

Field Notes

Description:

Mangroves on steroids? Found these very odd root structures at lakes edge directly beneath some tall Cypress trees, and these unusual growths are known as CYPRESS KNEES. The actual species has not yet determined, but there are 14 species of Cypress native to Australia. These are the only roots I found along any of the three lakes foreshores.

Habitat:

Spotted by the smaller of the three lakes at the University of Queensland Campus.

Notes:

Another trip to the lake and I'll have a closer look at the trees to get a positive ID. http://www.conifers.org/cu/Callitris.php Photos nbr 3&4 show the tress and some leaf litter. Here's another of my spotting of a native cypress, just across the river. No knees though. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/237146015

Reference Links:

Cypress knee, Callitris

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (4)
AshleyT
Well hopefully with more research you can at least narrow some down by range!
Neil Ross
Ashley, Apparently we have 14 species of Cypress native to Australia. Time for me to have another look at the trees in this location.
Neil Ross
Thanks very much, Ashley. I'll have a better look around next time I'm there. I don't recall seeing any Swamp Cypress in the area, but then I tend to be in my own little world sometimes. Whatever these are, they look really cool. I'll start to do some research :-)
AshleyT
I'm not sure if it is the same in Australia, but here in Texas (North America), these are called Cypress Knees. I'm not sure if they are actual roots are what, but they are in the cypress swamps and are so called because when you walk through the swamp you hit your knees on them and it really hurts :) Hope this helps some?

Spotted for Missions

Mission
WILD Cities: Urban Biodiversity
Mission
Wilds of South-East Queensland
Mission
Trees of the World

Tags

Photographed
PublishedJune 23, 2013

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