The Chinese swamp cypress (Glyptostrobus pensilis)

The Chinese swamp cypress (Glyptostrobus pensilis) is the only living species of its genus (Glyptostrobus), and is found in South East China, Laos and Vietnam. It grows near water, in floodplains, along streams and near swamp land. It can also grow in water up to 60 cm deep. When growing in water, it produces structures known as "cyprus knees," which are thought to aid oxygen transportation to the roots. It can grow up to 30m tall with a trunk diameter of up to 100cm. The remaining population of this species is small, and there is continuing decline in population size. Hence, the species was assessed for the IUCN Red List as Critically Endangered in 2011. There is a Global Trees Campaign project aiming to propagate and conserve G. pensilis in ex situ in China, Vietnam and Laos to increase the number of individuals in the wild, as well as to train and educate local communities to improve their knowledge of conservation. Already 1,500 individuals have been propagated at South China Botanical Garden.