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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Kiln Schedules Luster Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Natural Growth Defects Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Synonyms Texture Trade Name Tree Identification Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Taxodium distichium Trade Name Baldcypress Family Name Taxodiaceae Synonyms Cupressus disticha Common Names Ahuehuete, Ahuehuetl, Bald cypress, Baldcypress, Black cypress, Buck cypress, Cipres de Montezuma, Cipreso, Common bald cypress, Cow cypress, Cypress, Faux satine, Florida cypress, Gulf cypress, Inland cypress, Louisiana cypress, Louisiana red cypress, Pentamon, Pentamu, Pond cypress, Red cypress, Sabino, Southern cypress, Swamp cypress, Tidewater red cypress, Tnuyuca, White cypress, Xina, Yaga-chichilino, Yaga-guichi, Yellow cypress, Yuca-ndatura Regions of Distribution North America Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] United States Common Uses Agricultural implements, Baskets, Bent Parts, Boat building (general), Boat building, Boat building: decking, Boxes and crates, Bridge construction, Building materials, Cabinetmaking, Canoes, Chairs, Chests, Coffins, Cooperages, Core Stock, Decorative veneer, Desks, Dining-room furniture, Domestic flooring, Drawer sides, Excelsior, Figured veneer, Fine furniture, Flooring, Food containers, Framing, Fuelwood, Furniture , Furniture components, Furniture squares or stock, Furniture, Hatracks, Heavy construction, Interior construction, Interior trim, Joinery (external): ground contact, Joinery, Kitchen cabinets, Lifeboats, Light construction, Living-room suites, Marine construction, Millwork, Mine timbers, Moldings, Office furniture, Pallets, Paneling , Paneling, Parquet flooring, Piling, Plain veneer, Posts, Railroad ties, Shingles, Tables , Vats, Vehicle parts, Veneer, Veneer: decorative, Woodenware Environmental Profile May be rare in some parts of its range Generally widespread, secure, and abundant within most of its range Data source is Nature Conservancy May be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery Distribution Overview Baldcypress is distributed in Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Missouri, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, New York, Oklahoma, Illinois, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Indiana. The tree prefers very wet, swampy soils of riverbanks and floodplain lakes that are sometimes submerged. It is often found in pure stands, but may also grow alongside hardwoods Heartwood Color Brown Yellow Orange Green/grey Red Yellow to golden-yellow to orange Reddish brown Pale brown Brown Black Red Dark brown Dark brown The heartwood is variable in color, with some wood featuring lighter streaks on a darker background. Material from trees growing in the southern swamps is darker in color than that from trees growing farther north on drier lands Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Pink White to yellow Sapwood merges gradually into the heartwood Grain Straight Figure Growth rings (figure) Even Distinct (figure) Straight Clear growth rings (figure) Distinct figure May be even or uneven Texture Medium Coarse Fine Coarse Fine Medium coarse to coarse Oil from the tree is reported to impart a greasy feel to the wood Luster Low Natural Growth Defects Latex or other ducts Gum/resin streaks Natural Durability Non-durable Susceptible to insect attack Non-resistant to powder post beetles Perishable Durable Resistant to attack from termites (Isoptera) Very durable Moderately resistant to termite (Isoptera) attack Moderately durable Heartwood has high natural resistance to decay Odor Has an odor Freshly milled wood has a sour or rancid odor Natural oil produced by the tree is reported to give freshly-milled wood a sour or rancid odor. The odor has very little effect on food products that come in contact with the wood. Kiln Schedules Dry at a moderate speed UK=K US=T13C4S/T11D3S T13 - E3 (4/4); T11 - D2 (8/4) US Schedule K (4/4) United Kingdom Drying Defects Distortion Checking Moderate surface checking Moderate end spitting No twisting or warping Drying defects that may occur in this species include chemical brown stains (Young growth Baldcypress), water pockets and end-checks. These defects are associated with the presence of wood extractives. Ease of Drying Moderate Difficult Green cypress wood is usually high in moisture content and requires care and extra time to kiln-dry, compared to other softwoods. Kiln Drying Rate Rapid Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Tree Identification Bole/stem form is buttressed Bole/stem form is unknown Tree Size Tree height is 40-50 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Bole length is 20-30 m Bole length is 10-20 m Bole length is 30-40 m Trunk diameter is 150-200 cm Trunk diameter is 200-250 cm Baldcypress trees are well-known ornamentals, but are also commercially valuable.Large, acquatic and deciduous tree Comments General finishing qualities are rated as good General finishing qualities are rated as satisfactory Some cypress logs are reported to be susceptible to attack by a fungus which forms pockets or localized areas in the wood. The result is Pecky cypress which is reported to be attractive in appearance when cut. Although Pecky cypress is reported to be considered as an actual grade, supplies are very small compared to other grades. Blunting Effect High to severe Moderate Little Boring Fairly easy to very easy Fair to good results Carving Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Moderate to saw Gluing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to glue Mortising Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Moderately easy to mortise Moulding Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Moulding ease is moderate Movement in Service Stable Nailing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Holds nails well Easy to nail Planing Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Ease of planing is moderate Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Heartwood is moderately resistant Response to Hand Tools Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Responds Readily Easy to Work Easy to machine Moderate working qualities Difficult to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Screwing yields good results Easy to screw Turning Poor to Very Poor Results Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Veneering Qualities Veneers moderately easy Difficult to veneer Veneers easily Suitable for peeling Suitable for slicing There is slight to moderate drying degrade and the potential for buckles and splits Moderately easy to veneer Steam Bending Moderate Painting Good results Takes paint very well It is regarded as an economical wood to finish because of its high paint retention. Polishing Fair to Good Results Staining Fair to Good Results Strength Properties Density (dry weight) = 31-37 lbs/cu. ft. Density (dry weight) = 23-30 lbs/cu. ft. Work to Maximum Load = very low Shearing strength (parallel to grain) = very low Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = very low Max. crushing strength = medium Hardness (side grain) = very soft Bending strength (MOR) = low Toughness-Hammer drop (Impact Strength) = low Shrinkage, Tangential = small Shrinkage, Radial = small Max. crushing strength = low Hardness = medium Crushing strength = medium Bending strength (MOR) = very low Bending strength in the air-dry condition is medium. It also has moderate crushing strength parallel to grain. The wood is moderately heavy, moderately hard, strong and moderately stiff. Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Bending Strength 5958 9381 psi Crushing Strength 392 715 psi Density 29 lbs/ft3 Hardness 417 lbs Impact Strength 25 26 inches Maximum Crushing Strength 3561 6127 psi Shearing Strength 950 psi Stiffness 1109 1279 1000 psi Work to Maximum Load 6 7 inch-lbs/in3 Specific Gravity 0.41 0.48 Weight 30 25 lbs/ft3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % Volumetric Shrinkage 11 % Item Green Dry Metric Bending Strength 418 659 kg/cm2 Crushing Strength 27 50 kg/cm2 Density 464 kg/m3 Hardness 189 kg Impact Strength 63 65 cm Maximum Crushing Strength 250 430 kg/cm2 Shearing Strength 66 kg/cm2 Stiffness 77 89 1000 kg/cm2 Work to Maximum Load 0.42 0.49 cm-kg/cm3 Specific Gravity 0.41 0.48 Weight 480 400 kg/m3 Radial Shrinkage 3 % Tangential Shrinkage 6 % References Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois and E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Woods: Temperate and Tropical. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Madison, Wisconsin. Brown, H.P. and Panshin, A.J.,1940,Commercial Timbers of the United States Their structure, identification,,properties and uses,McGraw-Hill, London Brown, W.H.,1978,Timbers of the World: - No.7 North America,TRADA Clifford, N.,1957,Timber Identification for the Builder and Architect,Leonard Hill (Books) LTD. London Dallimore, W. and Jackson, A. Bruce,1966,A Handbook of Coniferae and Ginkgoaceae Fourth Ed. Revised by S.G.,Harrison,Edward Arnold (Publishers) Ltd. London Forest Products Research Laboratory U.K.,1957,A Handbook of Softwoods,Department of Scientific and Industrial Research Forest Products Research,HMSO Howard, A.L.,1948,A Manual of Timbers of the World.,Macmillan & Co. Ltd. London 3rd ed. I.U.F.R.O.,1973,Veneer Species of the World,Assembled at F.P.L. Madison on behalf of I.U.F.R.O. Working Party on,Slicing and Veneer Cutting Kaiser, J. 1993. Wood of the Month - Cypress: The Hardwood-like Softwood. Wood and Wood Products, May 1993. Page 36. Kennedy, H.E.,1972,American Woods - Bald Cypress,USDA, Forest Service American Woods FS-218 Little, E.L. 1980. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Eastern Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York. Markwardt, L.J., Wilson, T.R.C.,1935,Strength and related properties of woods grown in the United States,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture Technical Bulletin,No.479 Panshin, A.J. and C. deZeeuw. 1980. Textbook of Wood Technology, 4th Edition. McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York. Patterson, D.,1988,Commercial Timbers of the World, 5th Edition,Gower Technical Press Record, S.J., Hess, R.W.,1943,Timbers of the New World,Yale University Press Rendle, B.J.,1969,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Ernest Benn Ltd. London Timber Development Association Ltd.,1955,World Timbers (3 Vols.,Timber Development Association Ltd. Titmuss, F.H.,1965,Commercial Timbers of the World,Technical Press Ltd., London, 3rd edition U.S.D.A. Forest Service,1974,Wood Handbook,U.S.A. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service Handbook,72 USDA. 1987. Wood Handbook - Wood as an Engineering Material, Forest Service, Agriculture Handbook No. 72, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. USDA. 1988. Dry Kiln Operators Manual, Preliminary Copy. Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin. Wolcott, G.N.,1950,An Index to the Termite Resistance of Woods,Agricultural Experimental Station, University of Puerto Rico Bulletin,No.85