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Biodiversity: Plants
Alabama's geography, climate, geologic history, and wealth of water and wetland resources make it one of the most biodiverse regions in the country. In particular, our state is known to have the greatest number of freshwater species of fish and mollusks in the United States. Cypress Creek reflects this diversity, as its habitats are host to a vast array of plants and animal species.
Cypress Creek has been identified as a Strategic Habitat Unit by biologists based upon its numerous and rare aquatic species (Ray et al. 2021). Taking care of this resource is imperative to conserving it for how we use the creek and maintaining its inhabiting species -- some of which live nowhere else in the world.
Let’s learn about some of the common plant species of Cypress Creek.
Bald Cypress
The bald cypress (Taxodium distichum) is a lofty, deciduous conifer native to much of southeastern North America that reaches 50-75 ft. in height when mature. It is aquatic, often with cone-shaped "knees" projecting from submerged roots. The tree's base is much wider than its trunk, and its crown of widely spreading branches flattens near its top.
It has large, needle-like leaves and its exfoliating bark, bark that naturally peels away from the trunk, is red-brown to silver.
Bald cypresses play important roles in natural and developed ecosystems. As riparian species growing along rivers and in wetlands, they work to soak up floodwaters and prevent erosion. They also trap pollutants and prevent them from spreading. Frogs, toads, and salamanders use bald cypress swamps as breeding grounds.
Wood ducks nest in hollow trunks, catfish spawn in the submerged hollow logs, and raptors like bald eagles nest in the treetops.Bald cypress trees are valued for their rot-resistant heartwood of mature trees, so they have been widely used to make fence posts, doors, flooring, caskets, cabinetry, and boats. However, as they are a slow-growing species near water with a smaller population than in the past, these trees are no longer harvested like they once were.
River Birch
The river birch (betula nigra) is a riparian, fast-growing, deciduous tree, usually between 30-50 ft., but capable of reaching 90 ft. in height. It is typically a multi-trunked, leaning tree with an irregular, spreading crown and slightly weeping branches.
The river birch is best known for its satin, silver bark when young that peels to reveal its cinnamon-colored trunk. The tree’s silver bark turns to pinkish brown or black as it matures.
In the fall, the river birch’s foliage will turn yellow. Look for the river birch to flower in the winter and spring, and produce small cones in the summer.
River Weed
River weeds, aquatic plants of the family Podostemaceae, look like mosses, liverworts, algae, and lichens, and live on rocks in rivers or waterfalls. Most riverweeds are found in the tropics and subtropics, with few representatives found in the South or North America, though these include the namesake species riverweed (Podostemum ceratophyllum).River weeds produce flowers after being exposed to air as a result of a drop in water level during the dry season. After maturing, seeds are shed on the rocks, then germinate when the wet season returns. These seeds are often sticky, clinging to the feet of birds, which distribute them to new habitats.
River weeds provide a valuable food source, shelter and habitat to aquatic invertebrates, fish, mammals, and birds dependent upon our waterways. However, they are threatened by water quality deterioration resulting from development, agriculture, and run off from sewage treatment plants. Siltation from erosion, nutrient pollution, and dam building are also threats to these species.
Water Willow
Though unrelated to willow trees, the water willow (also known as American water willow) is an aquatic plant named for the similarities in shape and feel its leaves share with true willows. Its white and purple flowers, produced from June to September (though not every year), appear in small clusters on the plant's stalks with prominent bee guidelines in their center that attract the pollinators and other insects. While bees and other insects sustain themselves on water willow's nectar, mammals consume its foliage. Water willow is found in dense colonies throughout the eastern United States and Canada along the banks of streams and rivers and less commonly in muddy edges of ponds and lakes.
Like our other aquatic plants, water willow makes our floats down Cypress Creek more enjoyable by keeping our creek healthy and clean through the erosion control, water filtration, and flood protection it provides. In turn, our diverse fish populations and anglers also benefit from the plant's ecosystem services.
Let us know what species you find by sharing your best creek dweller photos with us on Facebook and Instagram! Tag @muscleshoalsnha and #ourcypresscreek.