C. atlantica.
C. funebris foliage.
Cupressus Linnaeus 1753
Common Names
Cypress (Eckenwalder 1993).Taxonomic notes
A genus of 12-24 speces, depending on taxonomic interpretation. The large range of opinion occurs because cypresses generally occur in small isolated populations distinguished by small differences, interpreted by some as valid at species rank, but by others only at varietal or subspecific rank. Recent trends (e.g. Eckenwalder 1993, Frankis 1992, Farjon 1998) have been toward the latter view; for a narrower species concept, see Rushforth (1987). Cone morphology of allied taxa (e.g. the C. arizonica group) varies as much or more within populations than between populations (M.P. Frankis, pers. obs.), supporting the broad species concept.Despite the relatively large genetic distance between Cupressus and Chamaecyparis (Brunsfeld et al. 1994, Gadek & Quinn 1993, Gadek et al. 2000), delimitation of these two often superficially very similar genera has been subject to extensive dispute. C. funebris in particular has been moved back and forth repeatedly, with the most recent chemical and phenological evidence (Farjon 1998, Rushforth 1987) showing it to belong in Cupressus. Another species commonly placed in Chamaecyparis, Ch. nootkatensis, is also here treated in Cupressus on the strength of morphological, phenological and genetic evidence (Frankis 1993, Gadek et al. 2000, Welch 1991).
Perhaps surprisingly, the closest genetic relative of Cupressus is Juniperus, with Platycladus and Microbiota also close (Gadek & Quinn 1993, Brunsfeld et al. 1994).
Description
Trees or large shrubs, evergreen. Branchlets terete or quadrangular, in decussate arrays in most species; flattened (comblike), superficially resembling Chamaecyparis or Thuja in others. Leaves opposite decussate in 4 ranks, rarely in alternating whorls of 3 in 6 ranks. Adult leaves appressed to divergent, scalelike, rhomboid, free portion of long-shoot leaves to 4 mm; abaxial gland present or absent. Pollen cones with 4-10 pairs of sporophylls, each sporophyll with 3-10 pollen sacs. Seed cones maturing in (?1-)2 years, exact maturation period poorly researched, mostly varying from about 16-25 months after pollination; generally persisting closed many years or until opened by fire, but opening on maturity, and falling soon after seed release, in a few species; globose or oblong, 8-43 mm; scales persistent, (2)3-6(7) opposite decussate pairs, valvate, peltate, thick and woody, the terminal pair either fused or open with a small central columella (varying from cone to cone on a single tree). Seeds (3)5-20 per scale, lenticular or faceted, narrowly 2-winged; cotyledons 2-5. x= 11 (Eckenwalder 1993, Frankis 1999).Range
Warm north temperate regions (Eckenwalder 1993): W USA, Mexico and adjoining Central America, NW Africa, Middle East and eastward along the Himalaya to SW & Central China and N Vietnam.Big Tree
I have no data for many species, but among the European and New World species, C. nootkatensis is clearly the largest. The largest individuals are all in cultivation.Oldest
There are few age data on Cupressus in general. The greatest documented ages are clearly for C. nootkatensis. Based on habitat (trees native to desert mountains tend to live a very long time), I suspect C. dupreziana (Frankis 1999), may also attain great ages.Dendrochronology
Several species have proven useful in climate reconstruction, archeological dating, and ecological studies. The genus appears to be less intractable that most of the Cupressaceae with regard to such problems as poor ring boundaries, false rings, and poor circuit uniformity. See the individual species for details.Ethnobotany
Several species are of horticultural importance; fastigiate forms of C. sempervirens, C. duclouxiana and C. funebris have been cultivated for ornament for several thousand years in the Mediterranean region and S China respectively, and the highly decorative weeping C. cashmeriana similarly long around the Buddhist Temples of Sikkim, Bhutan, Assam and nearby areas of Tibet and India.The wood is valued for its sweet scent and resistance to decay. Famous uses of the wood (of C. sempervirens) include Noah's Ark (The Bible, Genesis 6:14), and the doors to St. Peter's, Vatican City, Rome, which were still sound after 1,100 years' use (Loudon, 1838; reference misplaced).
Observations
Remarks
The genus name is from the Roman name for C. sempervirens, itself a loan word via Greek Kuparissos from Hebrew Gopher (Frankis 1992).Citations
Frankis, M.P. 1992. Cupressus. In: Griffiths et al. (eds) The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening 1: 781-783.Frankis, M.P. 1993. Nootka Cypress: Chamaecyparis or Cupressus? Conif. Soc. Austral. Newsletter 12: 9-10.
Frankis, M.P. 1999. Contributions based on personal experience, via e-mail, 3-Feb-1999.
Welch, H.J. 1991. The Conifer Manual vol. 1.
See also:
Goggans, J.F. and C.E. Posey. 1968. Variation in seeds and ovulate cones of some species and varieties of Cupressus. Circ. Agric. Exp. Sta., Alabama 160:1-23.
This page co-edited with M.P. Frankis, Feb-1999.
back | Cupressaceae | home
This page is from the Gymnosperm Database
URL: http://www.conifers.org/cu/cup/index.htm
Edited by
Christopher J. Earle
Last modified on 5-Dec-2001