Louisiana Bicentennial Legacy Tree Landmarked at Buckhorn Wildlife Management Area, Tensas Parish`

Location: Buckhorn Wildlife Management Area, Brushy Lake Nature Trail, Tensas Parish
GPS: N 32 02.681 W 091 21.940
Circumference: 23’5”
Estimated Age 450-500 years old
Access: By foot (Boardwalk over Brushy Lake)




Boring from tree in photo above is approximately 6.8 inches and contains approximately 87 rings. There is quite a variation in growth pattern-- some years of very rapid growth (lots of space between rings) and others of very little growth (where the safety pin points to the very closely spaced rings) Based on the 23' 5" circumference (measured above the buttress), the extropalated age of the tree is about 570 years. I would conservatively estimate the tree at 450-500 years old, taking into account the likely faster growth rate during its younger years (which is the section of the tree that is now hollow), and based on borings of similar sized cypress.

We are pleased to include this magnificant cypress among the first six Louisiana Bicentennial "founders trees"-- landmarked cypress alive during Louisiana's statehood in 1812. .

Lake Dauterive Ancient Cypress Identified.

In Iberia Parish, along the shoreline of Lake Dauterive (north of Lake Fausse Point State Park), hundreds of old growth cypress have stood witness to the march of time – and it appears that these cypress were well into “old age” at the time of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Based on the ring count from the coring of one of these trees, the age is estimated at over 1000 years old

Here are the statistics for this venerable cypress:

GPS coordinates: NEED VERIFICATION-- AUG. '25

Circumference: 17ft. Diameter: 5.4 ft. Radius: 2.7 ft.

Core: 3 inches Rings counted: Approximately 116 (Rings are extremely close together, indicating very slow growth)

Extrapolated age based on ring count: 1216 years

Estimated age: 1000+ years based on likely faster growth during early growth period (This faster growth is not apparent in corings of very old cypress, since the interior of the tree is usually hallow).

We are proud to include this tree, and its many venerable brethren along the shore of Lake Dauterive, among those "alive in 1803".

Lake Providence Tree Latest Cypress Legacy Addition

Grant's Canal-- a Civil War engineering relic-- is a major attraction in the small park accross from the Byerly House and Visitors Center bordering the lake in Lake Providence. Now another attraction, the fine old cypress just off Hwy 65, includes an identified Louisiana Purchase Cypress Legacy Tree--"alive in 1803". We have estimated the age of the tree at about 250 years.

Here are the statistics on this tree

GPS coordinates N32.48.422 W91.10.493

Circumference: 17 feet (measured 6 feet above base); Diameter: 5.4 feet; Radius: 2.4 ft.

Core sample: 14.75 inches (46% of radius) Rings counted on Core Sample: approx 117

Extropolated age of tree: 254 years

Ancient Cypress in Atchafalaya Basin Identified

Despite the ecological damage to our coastal wetlands, our coastal Louisiana cypress forests have thus far escaped the encroaching oil from the BP spill.
Among the coastal forests which must be spared the destruction facing our fragile coastal marshes, are the vast stretches of cypress comprising the Atchafalaya Basin.
We have been aware of several areas of the basin that are likely to have old growth cypress, but this is the first tree we have been able to measure and core. It is in the Williams Canal area of the Swamp east of the village of Bayou Sorrell (See map below)



This is area is well known to Dean Wilson (seen below measuring the tree), who takes visitors into this area with his Last Wilderness Swamp Tour. Dean is also the Atchafalaya Basinkeeper and a vigilant steward of this fragile ecosystem.

Here is a summary of location, tree size, core sample, and rings counted, and estimated age:

Iberville Parish
Inventory Code: IP-1
GPS coordinates30.06.173N 91.19.916W
Circumference: 16’8” Radius:2’8”
Core Samples (a) 2.63” percent of radius: .08% rings counted: 85
(b) 3.25” percent of radius: .10% rings counted: 110
Extrapolated age 900-1100yrs LPCL plaque #12 "Alive in 1803"

Based on the two corings and rings counted we are conservatively estimating the age of the tree at 900 years. This estimate would take into account the likelihood that, as with many old cypress that are hollowed out, the rings counted on the sample core are likely to represennt the slower growth periods of the tree.

Several other trees in the vicinity are equally as large, likely at least as old, and await LPCL measuring, coring, and dating.

Des Allemands Cypress Likely 300+ Years Old

Good news!—the Dufrene’s cypress in Des Allemands (see previous entry) is a Louisiana Purchase Cypress Legacy tree. In fact, it’s likely that it was at least 100 years old at the time of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. Here’s how we arrived at the tree’s estimated age of at least 300 years:
Circumference: 14’4”—measured above buttress, 9 ft. from base
Diameter: 4’8”
Radius: 2’4”
Core Sample length: 14.75 inches Rings counted: approx. 197.
Extrapolated total rings: 14.75” /197 = 28”/x x = 365 rings
This tree has been well known to the Dufrene family for several generations. Before construction of a levee behind the tree in the early 1900’s, this tree was part of the Grand Bayou swamp , likely growing in a habitat conducive to very slow steady growth, as reflected in the many closely spaced growth rings on the core sample (see photo below).

This grand old cypress is very much part of community life in Des Allemands—several weddings have taken place beneath its canopy.
Murray, Terri, Chelsey, and Bryleigh Dufrene (shown in picture with LPCL plaque #27) are now proud stewards of what is likely one of the oldest cypress in St. Charles Parish.

If you know of others in St. Charles Parish (or any where else in Louisiana) that may qualify as La. Purchase Cypress Legacy trees (alive in 1803), please let us know. Leave a message in the comment section or at LaPurchaseCypressLegacy@gmail.com.

How Old is this St. Charles Parish Cypress?

The Dufrene family of Des Allemands, LA invited the Cypress Legacy campaign to measure and core a beautiful old cypress on their property. It measured 14'4" in circumference.
We obtained a good core from the tree -- preparing the core sample for ring counting comes next. Our next blog entry will give a determination of the approximate age of the tree-- hopefully it's a Louisiana Purchase Cypress Legacy Tree: "alive in 1803". We'll also have some more information on the history of this fine old cypress.

900+ Year Old Cypress is Landmarked in Avoyelles Parish

The results are in for the Avoyelles Parish tree pictured and described in the previous blog. It --and its nearly as old companion-- are magnificent trees and easily qualify as Louisiana. Purchase Cypress Legacy Trees—“alive in 1803”. Congratulations to Brian McCann—owner/steward. The trees are located northeast of Marksville on bottomlands near the Red River-- tucked between cornfields just outside the Lake Ophelia National Wildlife. A unique feature of the tree pictured at right is its towering height and fully intact canopy--unlike most trees centuries old, it has not been struck by lightning and lost limbs Although the date on the plaque (see photo) is 2008, it was placed on the First tree (measurements below) on May 31, 2009.

First Tree (two corings)

Height—approx 105 ft.
Circumference--above buttress measured approx. 25’9” at 14 feet above base
Circumference measured approx. 40’2” at breast height

First tree coring is 1.5 inches—approx. 49 rings counted
Radius is 48 inches (based on the above buttress 25’9”circumference measurement)
Extrapolated ring count for the radius is calculated as 1.5”/48”= 49/x
x = 1568 rings

Second coring is 2.5 inches—approx 65 rings counted

Radius is 48 inches

Extrapolated ring count for the radius is calculated as: 2.5/48= 65/x
x = 1248 rings

Second tree (one coring)

Measured at 32 feet circumference at breast height
Second Tree coring is 1.5 inches—approx. 39 rings counted
Radius is 61 inches—
Extrapolated ring count for the radius is calculated as: 1.5/61 = 39/x
x = 1586 rings

Due to the small core lengths and estimated tree ring count from the cores (very faint rings despite sanding of core), I am making a conservative estimate of the first tree’s age at 900-1000 years. This estimate also allows for likely faster growing years during which rings are spaced farther apart than those counted on the core samples.
This estimated age would be consistent with that of cypress I’ve estimated at a similar age which had a smaller circumference. The conservative estimate also uses the smaller radius measurement (above the buttress)
For the same reasons I would also estimate the second tree’s age at a minimum of 800-1000 years (possibly a bit younger than the first tree since the radius used in the calculation was not above the buttress as with the first tree)
Dendrochronologists have validated both my estimated tree ring counts for trees of similar age and the extrapolation method I am using, but please bear in mind that this is not a “scientific” determination. However, I do feel confident that these trees could easily be 800—1000 years old—likely the oldest known living cypress in Avoyelles Parish, and among the oldest in the state. It is reassuring to know that Brian McCann and his son John will be caring stewards of such magnificent cypress.
I’m proud to add these trees to the inventory of La Purchase Cypress Legacy trees!