A distinctive, large, southern conifer (coastal plain and Mississippi valley), with a flattened crown and deciduous foliage that is commonly found in permanent swamps (with Nyssa aquatica). The trunk is buttressed with fluted bases and "knees". Branches are draped with spanish moss and often have reddish-brown, fibrous bark. Needles are about 2/3" long, linear, and 2-ranked with lateral branchlets with deciduous attached leaves. Cones are about 1", subglobose, peltate, and usually disintegrating at maturity.