Louisiana Purchase Cypress Legacy

Tickfaw State Park Cypress--"Grandma tree"-- Over 600 Years Old

"Grandma Tree"-- Tickfaw State Park
GPS: N30.22.958 W090.38.329

The most well known tree in Tickfaw State Park, near Springville in Livingston Parish-- the Grandma Tree-- has finally revealed her (approximate) age, thanks to a boring recently taken by the La Purchase Cypress Legacy campaign.

Here are the statistics

Circumference at Buttress: Approx. 20"10"

Trunk circumference above buttress: Approx. 15'5" (used for age determination)

Boring length: 7.75 inches

Rings counted: Approx. 187

187 rings / x = 7.75" boring / 30" trunk radius

x (total rings) = approx. 724

Projected age 600 + years

This projected age accounts for the likely faster tree growth at the beginning of it lifespan. Like most older cypress, much of the tree is hollow. Closely spaced rings seen in photo below indicate a very slow growing cypress, as is often the case with cypress of this size and in this setting. See the previous Dec 31, 2018 Blog post for a photo of the recently placed La Purchase Bicentennial Legacy Plaque placed near this majestic cypress, proclaiming "Alive in 1812". It appears the Grandma tree was already at least 400 years old at the time of Louisiana's statehood.

Grandma Tree Boring--Closely spaced rings above ruler show very slow yearly growth

A boring was also taken from a second cypress tree near the Tickfaw State Park Boat Launch in Gum Bayou. (Pictured also in previous blog post)

GPS: N30.22.714 , W090.30.140

Here's what we found:

Circumference at Buttress: Approx. 20"1"

Trunk circumference above buttress: Approx. 14' (used for age determination)

Boring length: 2.75 inches

Rings counted: Approx. 75

75 rings / x = 2.75" boring / 27" trunk radius

x (total projected rings) = approx. 736

Projected age 600 + years

Similar to the Grandma Tree (located off Canoe Launch Road near the campsite), this grand old cypress is projected to be over 600 years old. As seen in the bore photo below, this tree also is very slow growing-- faintly visible ringsabove the ruler  are very closely spaced.

boring of Gum Bayou Tree

Together with previously landmarked trees in Livingston Parish (see 6/17/17 and 6/23/17 Blog entries--Bayou Barbary and Amite River), these Tickfaw State Park trees are among the oldest known cypress in Livingston Parish. The Grandma Tree is easily accessible from Canoe Launch Road., and the Gum Bayou cypress is readily visible from canoe or kayak, as are several other large old cypress on Gum Bayou and the nearby Tickfaw, accessible form the Tickfaw State Park Boat launch.