Ancient Ascension Parish Giant Landmarked

 FOX 8 Dave McNamara's "Heart of Louisana" Feature story on La. Purchase Cypress Legacy

 Click on this link to see the feature story

Our quest to find the largest/oldest cypress in each Parish recently took us to the Martin lake vicinity of Ascension Parish, where Terry Matherne took us to view a beautiful old cypress he found on his property, located between Lake Martin and the Amite river.

This was truly an impressive cypress.
Here are the stats: Circumference: Approximately 21’10 “  (where the trunk meets the buttress)
Diameter  6’11”    Radius 3’ 5.5”
1st coring 2.75”  rings counted: 100+ 

 2nd coring 2.5”   rings counted: 60+    


 

Projected age: 700—1000 years  This is a conservative estimate;  if very close spacing of rings were to hold up through the entire radius, this tree would be well over 1000 years old. However, it is likely that the tree grew faster (with rings correspondingly further apart) in its early years and "adolescence". Coring samples are from later growth periods

You can follow our trek to this beautiful tree and learn more about our efforts to identify and landmark old growth cypress throughout Louisiana  by linking to David McNamara's recent Fox 8 "Heart of Louisiana" series feature on the Louisiana Purchase Cypress Legacy here: http://www.fox8live.com/story/30484500/heart-of-louisiana-legacy-cypress

This is now the oldest documented live cypress in Ascension Parish and was awarded LPCL Plaque #45.  As a proud owner of this tree and of several other old growth specimens nearby, Terry Mathern's intent to leave his property in its natural state  exemplifies the stewardship of our natural heritage that can be found throughout Louisiana. 

Know of any cypress that may be larger/older in Ascension or in other Parishes throughout the state?  Let us know at LaPurchaseCypressLegacy@gmail.com

Shell Bank Bayou Cypress at Least 450 Years Old

N 30 09.910  W 090 27.033

           Here is the data on the landmarked cypress featured in the December BLOG entry.

Diameter 49 inches

Radius 24.5 inch

Bore obtained: 3.25 inches

Rings counted:  Approx. 90

Projected age Calculation:

                   3.25/24.5  (core sample/ radius)= 90 (rings counted)/x

X = 676 years

Based on a projected ring count of 676, a conservative estimate of the tree's age is 450 years. This estimate takes into account the likely faster growth at the tree's earliest phase of growth, which would show up in more widely spaced annual rings were a full radius boring (24.5 inches) obtained. As with many cypress trees this age, the hollow trunk precludes obtaining  a longer length boring; therefore a conservative age estimate is appropriate

 

Circumference: 12'10''

Vertical lines in section of 3.25 inch core (enlarged) show variation in spacing of annual growth rings. Closely spaced rings indicate slow yearly growth

Location of landmarked cypress-- upper center on map

 

Additional  old growth in small lakes south of Shell Bank Bayou (N 30 09.494 W 090 27.375)