Cupressus gigantea

Tibet cypress ( Cupressus gigantea var torulosa )

The Tibet cypress ( Cupressus gigantea var torulosa ) is a variety of Himalayan cypress ( Cupressus torulosa ) from the family of the cypress family ( Cupressaceae ). It is native to the southeast of Tibet.

Description

The Tibet may cypress grows as evergreen tree of the plant height of 25 to 50 meters and diameter at breast height 1-6 meters reach. Young trees have a fibrous, orange - brown bark, the dark with age brown to gray. Furthermore, it is thicker and form narrow ridges from. The open crown is irregularly conical in shape. The 1.2 to 2 millimeters thick branches are colored blue and green are close, but never hanging on the branches.

The scale-like and curved sheets are colored blue-green. They are crowded on the branches. On the underside of leaves you will find a round gland.

The blue- green cones are spherical, oblong- shaped with a length of 1.5 to 2 inches and a width of 1.3 to 1.6 centimeters. They consist of twelve cone scales each of which carries several seeds.

The chromosome number is 2n = 22

Distribution and location

The natural range of the Tibet Cypress is located in southeast Tibet. They are found there in the Dihangschluchten and in the river valleys of the Nyang Qu and Nize.

The Tibetan cypress grows at altitudes 3000-3400 meters. It grows mainly in river valleys and on this adjoining mountain slopes.

System

The first description as Cupressus gigantea in 1975 by Wan Chun Cheng and Li Kuo Fu in Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica 13 (4 ), pp. 85-86, pl. 16, f 1, it was of Aljos K. Farjon Monogram in 2005. Cupressaceae Sciadopitys, p 224 as a variety of Himalayan cypress ( Cupressus torulosa ) was assumed. Some authors it is still performed as a separate species.

If it is passed as a separate species, three subspecies are occasionally distinguished:

• Cupressus gigantea subsp. gigantea ( Silba ) Silba is the nominate form.
• Cupressus gigantea subsp. ludlowii ( Silba ) Silba. A synonym is Cupressus tongmaiensis var ludlowii Silba.
• Cupressus gigantea subsp. tongmaiensis ( Silba ) Silba. A synonym is Cupressus tongmaiensis Silba.

Threats and conservation

The Tibetan cypress is classified in the IUCN Red List as "vulnerable". However, it is noted that a re-examination of risk is necessary.

Swell

• Template: Internet resource / maintenance / access date not in ISO format Christopher J. Earle: Cupressus gigantea. In: The Gymnosperm Database. www.conifers.org, February 27, 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 gigantea, S. 67 ( this printed work is the same text online, Cupressus gigantea - Online).