Hesperocyparis lusitanica: Difference between revisions
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===Cultivation and uses=== |
===Cultivation and uses=== |
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Fast growing, and drought tolerant. It has been introduced from Mexico's provenances to different parts of the world. Trees have not been selected for cultivation from northern Mexico populations, which are highly drought resistant. It is widely cultivated, both as an [[ornamental tree]] and for [[timber]] production, in warm temperate and subtropical regions around the world. Its cultivation and subsequent [[naturalisation (biology)|naturalisation]] in parts of southern [[Asia]] has caused a degree of confusion with native ''Cupressus'' species in that region; plants sold by nurseries under the names of Asian species such as ''[[Cupressus torulosa]]'' often prove to be this species. |
Fast growing, and drought tolerant. It has been introduced from Mexico's provenances to different parts of the world. Trees have not been selected for cultivation from northern Mexico populations, which are highly drought resistant. It is widely cultivated, both as an [[ornamental tree]] and for [[timber]] production, in warm temperate and subtropical regions around the world. Its cultivation and subsequent [[naturalisation (biology)|naturalisation]] in parts of southern [[Asia]] has caused a degree of confusion with native ''Cupressus'' species in that region; plants sold by nurseries under the names of Asian species such as ''[[Cupressus torulosa]]'' often prove to be this species. |
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It has been planted widely for commercial production: at high altitudes in [[Colombia]] (3300 m), [[Bolivia]] and [[South Africa]], and near sea level in [[New Zealand]] where is fully naturalized. In [[Colombia]] trees are planted to form |
It has been planted widely for commercial production: at high altitudes in [[Colombia]] (3300 m), [[Bolivia]] and [[South Africa]], and near sea level in [[New Zealand]] where is fully naturalized. In [[Colombia]] trees are planted to form [[windbreak]] curtains and fighting soil erosion on slopes. |
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It has been Planted as ornamental near sea level in temperate climates and has done very well: [[Portugal]] (from where it got its name because became popular in that country), [[Buenos Aires Province]], [[Argentina]]; [[Austin, Texas]] and [[British Isles]], it can reach a height of 30 m in the British Isles. |
It has been Planted as ornamental near sea level in temperate climates and has done very well: [[Portugal]] (from where it got its name because became popular in that country), [[Buenos Aires Province]], [[Argentina]]; [[Austin, Texas]] and [[British Isles]], it can reach a height of 30 m in the British Isles. |
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Revision as of 23:53, 17 June 2008
| Cupressus lusitanica | |
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| Cupressus lusitanica var. lusitanica foliage and cones | |
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| Species: | C. lusitanica
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| Binomial name | |
| Cupressus lusitanica | |
Cupressus lusitanica, (Cedro Blanco; Teotlate, distinctive names used in Mexico); Cedro Blanco means White Cedar and is also known as Mexican White Cedar, is a species of cypress native to Mexico and Central America (Guatemala, Belize, Nicaragua, El Salvador), growing at 1200-3000 m altitude.
It is an evergreen tree with a conic to ovoid-conic crown, growing to 40 m tall. The foliage grows in dense sprays, dark green to somewhat yellow-green in colour. The leaves are scale-like, 2-5 mm long, and produced on rounded (not flattened) shoots. The seed cones are globose to oblong, 10-20 mm long, with 4 to 10 scales, green at first, maturing brown or grey-brown about 25 months after pollination. The cones may either open at maturity to release the seeds, or remain closed for several years, only opening after the parent tree is killed in a wildfire, allowing the seeds to colonise the bare ground exposed by the fire. The male cones are 3-5 mm long, and release pollen in February-March. In most of its natural environment rainfalls occur with more quantity is summer.
There are two varieties, treated as distinct species by some botanists:
- Cupressus lusitanica var. lusitanica (syn. C. lindleyi) - Mexican Cypress -
secure. Foliage in three-dimensional sprays, with small shoots in two planes. Occurs in lower rainfall areas.
- Cupressus lusitanica var. benthamii (syn. C. benthamii) - Bentham's Cypress - NT. Foliage in flattened sprays, with small shoots all in one plane. Occurs in higher rainfall areas.
The scientific name lusitanica (of Portugal) refers to its very early cultivation there, with plants imported from Mexico to the monastery at Buçaco, near Coimbra in Portugal in about 1634; these trees were already over 130 years old when the species was botanically described by Miller in 1768.
Cultivation and uses
Fast growing, and drought tolerant. It has been introduced from Mexico's provenances to different parts of the world. Trees have not been selected for cultivation from northern Mexico populations, which are highly drought resistant. It is widely cultivated, both as an ornamental tree and for timber production, in warm temperate and subtropical regions around the world. Its cultivation and subsequent naturalisation in parts of southern Asia has caused a degree of confusion with native Cupressus species in that region; plants sold by nurseries under the names of Asian species such as Cupressus torulosa often prove to be this species. It has been planted widely for commercial production: at high altitudes in Colombia (3300 m), Bolivia and South Africa, and near sea level in New Zealand where is fully naturalized. In Colombia trees are planted to form windbreak curtains and fighting soil erosion on slopes.
It has been Planted as ornamental near sea level in temperate climates and has done very well: Portugal (from where it got its name because became popular in that country), Buenos Aires Province, Argentina; Austin, Texas and British Isles, it can reach a height of 30 m in the British Isles.
It is being planted in the province of Argentine province of San Luis[1], Argentina at 1500 m above sea level with forestation purposes for creating artificial forests in a land originally lacking of them in a very similar climate to that of its origin site
References and external links
- Rzedowski J. 1983. Vegetación de México. Distrito Federal, Mexico.
- Dvorak, W. S., G. R. Hodge, E. A. Gutiérrez, L. F. Osorio, F. S. Malan and T. K. *Stanger. *2000. Conservation and Testing of Tropical and Subtropical Forest Species by the CAMCORE Cooperative. College of Natural Resources, NCSU. Raleigh, NC. USA.
- Martínez, Maximinio. 1978. Catálogo de nombres vulgares y científicos de plantas mexicanas.
- Richardson D.M. (Ed) 2005. Ecology and biogeography of Pinus. Department of Conservation. South Island Wilding Conifer Strategy. New Zealand.
- Chandler, N.G. Pulpwood plantations in South Africa. Proc. Aust. Paper Indus. Tech. Ass.
- Gutiérrez, Millán, W. Ladrach. 1980. Resultados a tres años de la siembra directa de semillas de Cupressus lusitanica y Pinus patula en finca Los Guaduales Departamento del Cauca. Informe de Investigación 60. Cali, Colombia. Cartón de Colombia S.A. 6 p.