Bald Cypress Seeds (Steve Hurst, November 3, 2014)

The Bald Cypress is monoeius, meaning that one tree has both male and female reproductive organs. The male a female strobili need one growing season from the buds that were formed the previous year to mature. The male catkins are in thin clusters that hang from the tree and are about 0.08 inches wide and 3 to 5 inches long. They release their pollen in March and April. The female conelets are found in clusters of 2 to 3. As they mature from October to December they turn from a green color to a purple color. These female cones are 0.5 to 1.41 inches wide and have 9 to 15 scales. These scales can bear two seeds each. These seeds are thick and shaped like irregular triangles. These seeds can be produced every year, but the best seed crops happen every 3 or 5 years. Once the cones are mature they, or their scales, will drop to the water or ground. In order to germinate wet soil is needed for 1 to 3 months after the seed falls to the ground. If the seed falls in water, and becomes submerged it can still be germinated for up to 30 months.