Gnarly projections from cypress roots, known as knees, poke above water and ground, looking like woody gnomes. Their exact function is debated, though they do seem to help stabilize the trees in the swampy ground. It has been commonly assumed that they function to oxygenate the submerged roots, but evidence to support this is unclear.
Regardless, they do add a magical, fairyland appearance to the marsh beneath the towering cypress trees. Also, they function very effectively to grab the toes of people walking nearby and sending them facedown for a much closer view of the trees’ knees.
Eskildoodle Photos and Feelings 