One of Corkscrew Swamp's major ecological claims to fame is its stand of old-growth bald cypress. It is, in fact, the largest stand of old-growth bald cypress in the world. More than 700 acres of bald cypress. These are trees that have lifespans measured by centuries rather than mere decades. Corkscrew's trees date back 600 years, to the time before the Spanish took their first steps on the Florida Peninsula. Cypress wood, more so bald cypress than its close cousin the pond cypress, is prized for its durability — it resists both rot and insects — and beauty. Most of Florida's old growth forests were felled for lumber beginning century ago and peaking in the 1930s and 40s when the state was the largest producer of cypress lumber in the country. Corkscrew's remoteness and inaccessibility allowed it to evade the axemen until the 1950s when the Audubon Society took control of the land. Note No. 1: there are physical differences between the two types of cypress, but they can be difficult to tell apart at times. In fact there is a school of thought within the botanical world that bald cypress and pond cypress are really one species. Officially, however, they're still considered two. Note No. 2: The trees in photo appear barren because of the time of year, February, when the shot was taken. Both bald and pond cypress drop their needles in the cooler months.
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