16.5” x 6.5”

Cypress Knee, a unique root formation emerging from water and soil in the wetlands of the southeastern United States. Its purpose remains one of botany's enduring mysteries, with scientists proposing several explanations for its growth but reaching no consensus. This example was collected from Florida's Suwannee River near Old Town in 1976, one of the most intact cypress ecosystems in North America. Based on its size, it likely originated from a tree that had been growing since the mid-19th century or earlier.

Collected in 2026