Ask the Curator: How much do you know about Cypress knees?

Please join Exhibit Coordinator, Megan Kissinger, as she highlights one of the interesting natural history pieces in the Edison family collection.

Cypress trees grow in the swamps along the bayous of the Southeastern U.S. As the trees mature, extensions of the root system grow above the water or ground line forming a unique shape. Harvesting these knees doesn’t injure the tree in any way and the tree soon forms another knee and continues to grow. These knees are quite soft and easy to carve with either hand or power tools. They can also be used for unique bases and stands.