June 15, 2021

This is a typical Florida swamp

In the water you can see knees of Baldcypress

The trees don't kneel down, they stand tall and proud,

Why the knees are there is anyone's guess.

(I always assumed the cypress knees were similar to the Black Mangrove pneumatphores in that they help the plant breathe. But the linked article below describes that this is not so, in fact, scientists do know know the purpose of the knees.)

Location: Fort Drum Marsh Conservation Area

Sources: https://kimmerer.com/good-knees-said-baldcypress/

https://deeateightam.blogspot.com/2018/08/august-8-2018.html

Photo and text © 2021 Dee Fairbanks Simpson