Cupressus

Cupressus is one of several genera of evergreen conifers within the family Cupressaceae that have the common name cypress; for the others, see cypress. It is considered a polyphyletic group. Based on genetic and morphological analysis, the genus "Cupressus" is found in the subfamily Cupressoideae. The common name "cypress" comes via the Old French "cipres" from the Latin "cyparissus", which is the latinisation of the Greek κυπάρισσος ("kypárissos").
Description.
They are evergreen trees or large shrubs, growing to 5–40 m tall. The leaves are scale-like, 2–6 mm long, arranged in opposite decussate pairs, and persist for three to five years. On young plants up to two years old, the leaves are needle-like and 5–15 mm long. The cones are 8–40 mm long, globose or ovoid with four to 14 scales arranged in opposite decussate pairs; they are mature in 18–24 months from pollination. The seeds are small, 4–7 mm long, with two narrow wings, one along each side of the seed.
Many of the species are adapted to forest fires, holding their seeds for many years in closed cones until the parent trees are killed by a fire; the seeds are then released to colonise the bare, burnt ground. In other species, the cones open at maturity to release the seeds.
Distribution.
As currently treated, these cypresses are native to scattered localities in mainly warm temperate regions in the Northern Hemisphere, including western North America, Central America, northwest Africa, the Middle East, the Himalayas, southern China and northern Vietnam. As with other conifers, extensive cultivation has led to a wide variety of forms, sizes and colours, that are grown in parks and gardens throughout the world.
Cultivation.
Many species of cypress are grown as decorative trees in parks and, in Asia, around temples; in some areas, the native distribution is hard to discern due to extensive cultivation. A few species are grown for their timber, which can be very durable. The fast-growing hybrid Leyland cypress ("Cupressus" × "leylandii"), much used in gardens, draws one of its parents from this genus ("Cupressus macrocarpa", Monterey cypress); the other parent, "Callitropsis nootkatensis" (Nootka cypress), is also sometimes classified in this genus, or else in the separate genus "Xanthocyparis", but in the past more usually in "Chamaecyparis".
Cultural references.
It was believed in the Hellenic culture that the cypress tree was sacred to the gods and it is now used as an emblem of grief (from the name Cyparissus) Artemis (Roman equivalent Diana).
Species.
The number of species recognised within this genus varies sharply, from 16 to 25 or more according to the authority followed, because most populations are small and isolated, and whether they should be accorded specific, subspecific or varietal rank is difficult to ascertain. Current tendencies are to reduce the number of recognised species; when a narrow species concept is adopted, the varieties indented in the list below may also be accepted as distinct species. See also the New World species (below) for a likely split in the genus in the future.
Old World species.
The Old World cypresses tend to have cones with more scales (8–14 scales, rarely 6 in "C. funebris"), each scale with a short broad ridge, not a spike. "C. sempervirens" is the type species of the genus, defining the name "Cupressus".
New World species.
The New World cypresses tend to have cones with fewer scales (4-8 scales, rarely more in "C. macrocarpa"), each scale with an often prominent narrow spike. Recent genetic evidence shows they are less closely related to the Old World cypresses than previously thought, being more closely related to "Xanthocyparis" and "Juniperus" than to the rest of "Cupressus". These species have very recently been transferred to "Callitropsis". New World species are found in marginal habitats with xeric soils, and therefore exhibit a fragmented allopatric pattern of distribution. This type of distribution results in disproportionate local abundance with most species restricted to small neighboring populations.
Allergenic potential.
All plants in the genus "Cupressus", including New World "Cupressus" (now "Callitropsis"), are extremely allergenic, and have an OPALS allergy scale rating of 10. In warm, Mediterranean climates, these plants release large quantities of pollen for approximately seven months each year.