Louisiana Purchase Cypress Legacy

St. Tammany Parish Giant Landmarked in Brockham Bayou

Jessica Gauley  of HoneyIslandKayakTours.com poses nest to one of the Honey Island (Pearl River) swamp's venerable denizens in Brockham Bayou near Slidell La -- a highlight of her kayak tours. She had always wondered how old this tree might be, and I was happy to find that it is indeed a venerable member of the many centuries old cypress still thriving in the Pearl River Basin-- around 400 years old based on rings counted from a boring sample. This one is quite accessible,  visited either on on of Jessica's kayak tours, or on your own. 

GPS: N30 21.786 W089 44.371

Circumference: 16' 3" Diameter: 4' 4" Radius: 2' 4"

Coring: 3.36 inches  Rings counted: approx: 72

The arithmetic to determine estimated age:

3.36/26 (coring/radius) = 72/x

x= 557 estimated total rings

Based on a likely faster growing rate at the beginning of its life, I'd put its age at 400+ years
Landmarked with Plaque #49-- "Alive in 1803"  (Likely around 200 years old at time of La. Purchase)