- Cupressus funebris
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Cupressus funebris 
Conservation status Scientific classification Kingdom: Plantae Division: Pinophyta Class: Pinopsida Order: Pinales Family: Cupressaceae Genus: Cupressus Species: C. funebris Binomial name Cupressus funebris
Endl.Cupressus funebris (Chinese Weeping Cypress) is a species of cypress native to southwestern and central China.
Contents
Description
Cupressus funebris is a medium-sized coniferous tree growing to 20-35 m tall, with a trunk up to 2 m diameter. The foliage grows in dense, usually moderately decumbent and pendulous sprays of bright green, very slender, slightly flattened shoots.
The leaves are scale-like, 1-2 mm long, up to 5 mm long on strong lead shoots; young trees up to about 5-10 years old have juvenile foliage with soft needle-like leaves 3-8 mm long.
The seed cones are globose, 8-15 mm long, with 6-10 scales (usually 8), green, maturing dark brown about 24 months after pollination. The cones open at maturity to shed the seed. The pollen cones are 3-5 mm long, and release pollen in early spring.
Foliage with pollen and seed cones
Distribution
The precise natural range of Cupressus funebris is uncertain due to a long history of cultivation. Trees are recorded from forest habitats in the provinces of Guizhou, Hunan, and Chongqing.
More generally, it also occurs in Anhui, Fujian, southern Gansu, Guangdong, Guangxi, Henan, Hubei, Jiangxi, Shaanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan and Zhejiang, typically planted around monasteries and temples or in gardens.
Cultivation
Cupressus funebris is cultivated as an ornamental tree, due to its graciously weeping form and texture, and planted in gardens and public parks in other warm temperate regions, such as California. It is used as a houseplant and conservatory tree in colder climates.
References and external links
- Conifer Specialist Group (1998). Cupressus funebris. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 12 May 2006.
- Farjon, A. (2005). Monograph of Cupressaceae and Sciadopitys. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. ISBN 1-84246-068-4
- Gymnosperm Database: Cupressus funebris
- Photo of cones
Categories:- IUCN Red List least concern species
- Cupressus
- Trees of China
- Flora of East Asia
- Garden plants of Asia
- House plants
- Ornamental trees
- Trees of temperate climate
- Least concern plants
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