Cupressus L.
Monoecious trees, occasionally shrubs. Branchlets usually not flattened (arranged in several planes); ultimate shoots terete or 4-angled. Juvenile lvs needle-like, subulate, similar lvs often on main axes (terminal shoots). Adult lvs scale-like, opposite, decussate, often with a prominent, whitish resinous gland in middle of dorsal side. Cones solitary, terminal on short shoots towards branchlet ends. ♂ strobili (cones) oblong or ovoid, yellow; stamens numerous. Mature ♀ cones usually ± globose, usually > 10 mm diam., ripening in second year, generally persistent. Scales 6-14, not whorled, peltate with mucronate boss or umbo in middle, separating to release seeds; ovules and seeds 6- c. 20 on each scale. Seeds narrowly winged; cotyledons 3-4.
12-20 spp., warm N. temperate regions, especially S.W. North America. Naturalised sp. 1.
Nearly all of the Cupressus spp. are cultivated in N.Z. A small group of Sino-Himalayan spp., commonly represented by C. funebris Endl. and C. cashmeriana Carrière in cultivation in N.Z., have some characters intermediate between those of Cupressus and the genus Chamaecyparis. The foliage is in ± flattened sprays and the cones, particularly in C. funebris, are small and have few seeds to each scale.
