Flora of New Zealand Series

Lawson's cypress

Large, narrow-pyramidal tree; branches usually present to near ground and ± drooping towards the apex. Bark thick, fibrous, reddish brown, fissured. Branchlets in horizontal sprays, green or, less commonly ± glaucous (mostly glaucous in cultivation), aromatic when bruised. Sapling quickly passing into adult condition. Scale lvs appressed; facial pairs on lateral shoot systems (excluding 1-3 year terminal brown shoots) mostly 1-2 mm long, broad-ovate, subacute, with gland on back elongated and appearing as a translucent dot in transmitted light; lateral pairs similar but mostly 1.5-2.5 mm long, with whitish stomatal lines on lower side ± evident when fresh. ♂ strobili 2-5 mm long; pollen sacs deep pink to crimson. ♀ cones blue when young, brownish with bluish bloom and 6-9 mm diam. when mature; scales 8; umbo a small ridge. Seeds 2-4 on each scale, with conspicuous resin tubercles; wing narrower than or = to seed.

N.; S.: scattered localities throughout, especially cooler areas with a moderate to high rainfall.

California, Oregon 1940

Regenerating around plantations, forests and windbreaks onto roadsides, embankments and scrub.

Lawson's cypress is a very common cultivated garden, park, domain and windbreak tree. There are a number of cvs grown in N.Z., mainly differing in habit and foliage colour, but spontaneous plants usually have green foliage and the typical narrow-pyramidal habit.

In addition to Lawson's cypress, C. obtusa (Siebold et Zucc.) Endl. and C. pisifera (Siebold et Zucc.) Endl. are cultivated abundantly in N.Z., a number of cvs (some completely juvenile) being present. The combination of acute scale lvs with translucent glands, obviously larger lateral than facial lvs, and bright crimson ♂ cones, distinguishes C. lawsoniana from these 2 spp. in the adult stage.