Ask the Expert: Help ID”ing seed pod

Cyrpess Seed Pod

I picked up this 1″ seed pod in Barcelona a year ago.  It was closed up then.  Since then it opened, dropping out about 50 3mm flattened seeds.  Any idea? Mary

Plant Expert Reply:

Once again Rick Pudwell, at the Memphis Botanic Garden, has saved the day. I just couldn’t identify this seed pod.  It seems to be some kind of cypress seed pod.  It could be from a Montezuma cypress (Taxodium mucronatum).

Just a little side note.  Although Montezuma cypress are drought tolerant, they usulaly grow along side rivers or springs.  One of the oldest trees in Madrid is a Taxodium mucronatum found in the Buen Retiro Park.