The Black Cypress

    Although not a true cypress, the Black Cypress has been termed such by Terran visitors due to certain superficial similarities. The Martian name is not shared with visitors due to a local religious belief. In fact, Martians will avoid speaking of the tree at all, and if they need to draw attention to one, they will simply gesture in its direction. The reasons for this are obscure and beyond the scope of this article.

    First time visitors to the Sands are struck by the tall, slender trees which grow scattered about the dunes. How these plants manage to thrive in such an arid environment is a matter of debate. Some argue that the tree gathers what trace amounts of water it can from the air and whatever recent rainfalls may hit the area. Others believe that the deep roots of the tree reach hidden reservoirs. A still more controversial claim is that the tree has developed to live not off of water, but a black viscous substance found in pools below the surface, similar to the tarry sap the tree occasionally extrudes.

    During its lifespan, the cypress may have a noticeable impact on an area, as sand piles around its root system and forms a strong dune. Desert shrubs may grow in the organic material it sheds. Shaodan lizards have been known to dig burrows in the relative stability of its root system, using their petrifying spit to harden the tunnel surfaces. Skyrays drift lazily among its branches in ponderous mating rituals.

    When the cypress has exhausted what nutrients it can extract from the soil, the tree rapidly desiccates and detaches from its root system. It becomes very lightweight, and uses its last bit of energy to create thousands of tiny seeds. When one of the powerful windstorms that periodically sweep the sands comes by, it will pick up the lightweight trunk and carry it off to another area, scattering seeds in its wake. This also makes Martian sandstorms particularly dangerous, as in the blinding cover of the storm one is in danger of being hit by a flying tree.

[Author's Note: Images generated via the Image Creator on Bing. The concept of tall, slender black trees among white and pink sand dunes was inspired by the photos in this article.]