Cypress Grove, Henderson Swamp
Atchafalaya Basin
One tree stands out from the rest. The red color at the base marks the high water level and is produced by tannic acid in the water. It is late winter, but the flowers produced much earlier are showing a deep rust red in the upper branches. This red coloring differs depending on location and in some places is auburn, burgundy, maroon, chocolate- brown or orange. Photo © copyright by Frank LeBlanc.