ILLINOIS TREES: SELECTION, PLANTING. AND CARE 



41 



Fig. 42. — Bald cypress, 

 a rapid-growing tree, pro- 

 duces a tapering trunk 

 that is strongly buttressed 

 at the base. The twin trees 

 in this picture are about 

 90 feet tall. The needle- 

 like leaves are produced 

 on two sides of small, 

 feather-like branchlets (in- 

 set). 



eter, and contains heavy, angled seeds. The 1- to 2-inch-thick, 

 cinnamon-red bark is divided into broad, flat ridges by narrow 

 fissures. The straight trunk has long, slender branches which 

 give young trees a narrow, pyramidal shape. However, old trees 

 usually have very broad, low crowns. In swampy sites the roots 

 send up woody growths called "cypress knees" which are con- 

 spicuous above the water. Cypress lumber is durable and is used 

 for many purposes. 



Beech 



American beech (Fagns grandifolia) (Fig. 43) is limited in 

 its distribution to 17 counties in the southern and southeastern 

 sections of Illinois and to Lake County in the northeastern corner 

 of the state. It is a native forest tree which grows best in deep, 

 rich soil, and it does not lend itself readily to cultivation. As a 

 specimen tree it has a round head with wide-spreading branches 

 and may reach a height of 80 feet. 



The egg-shaped to somewhat oblong, thick, firm, sharp- 

 pointed, alternate leaves (Fig. 43 inset), 2V2-5 inches long, are 



