Cupressus duclouxiana

Cupressus duclouxiana

Cupressus duclouxiana is a plant belonging to the family of the cypress family ( Cupressaceae ). It is native in southern China.

Description

Can Cupressus duclouxiana grows as evergreen tree of stature heights of up to 25 meters and diameter at breast height of up to 80 centimeters reached. Young trees have a conical shaped crown is arched with age roundish to broad. This is the just depart from the tribe of slender, closely spaced branches. The thin, from 0.8 to 1 millimeter thick branches are ascending or descending but never connected.

The scale-like and curved leaves are 1 to 2 millimeters long and are colored blue-green on the underside. They are serrated. The tips are pointed or blunt.

The male cones are formed nearly spherical to ovoid with a diameter of 4-7 mm. They contain twelve to 20 Mikrosporophyllen. The cones are spherical shaped with a diameter of approximately 1.5 to 3.2 centimeters. Initially, they are colored blue-green. When ripe they turn out dark brown to purple-brown. They consist of six to ten Zapfenschuppen each carrying several seeds. The brown to purple- brown seeds are 3-5 mm long. Each seed comprises three ridges. The seedlings have two seed leaves ( cotyledons ).

The chromosome number is 2n = 22

Distribution and location

The natural range of Cupressus duclouxiana located in China. They are found there in the mountains of south-western Sichuan, Xizang South East and in Central and Northwest Yunnan. Presumably there are also resources in Guizhou.

Cupressus duclouxiana thrives at altitudes 1400-3300 meters. It grows mainly in dry and moist coniferous forests and on mountain slopes.

Use

The wood of Cupressus duclouxiana is a highly valued timber in their homeland. It also finds use as firewood. Especially in Europe Cupressus duclouxiana is grown as an ornamental plant.

System

The first description was in 1914 as Cupressus duclouxiana by Paul Robert Hickel in Encycl. Econ. Sylvicult. 91, pl. 3, pp. 419-424.

The species is sometimes divided into two subspecies:

• Cupressus duclouxiana subsp. austrotibetica ( Silba ) Silba. A synonym is Cupressus austrotibetica Silba
• Cupressus duclouxiana subsp. duclouxiana is the nominate form.

Threats and conservation

Cupressus duclouxiana is " critically endangered " on the Red List of IUCN. The main risk is why the felling of forests for the production of farmland and settlement areas is called. In addition, the populations of the species are scattered.

Swell

• Template: Internet resource / maintenance / access date not in ISO format Christopher J. Earle: Cupressus duclouxiana. In: The Gymnosperm Database. www.conifers.org, December 14, accessed on 28 December 2011 ( English).
• Liguo Fu Yong -fu Yu, Robert P. Adams & Aljos Farjon: Cupressaceae. Cupressus. In: Wu Zhengyi, Peter H. Raven & Hong Deyuan (eds.): Flora of China. Cycadaceae through Fagaceae. Volume 4, Science Press and Missouri Botanical Garden Press, Beijing and St. Louis in 1999, ISBN 0-915279-70-3, Cupressus duclouxiana, p 66 ( this printed work is the same text online, Cupressus duclouxiana - Online).