Biology:Cupressus gigantea
| Cupressus gigantea | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Gymnospermae |
| Division: | Pinophyta |
| Class: | Pinopsida |
| Order: | Cupressales |
| Family: | Cupressaceae |
| Genus: | Cupressus |
| Species: | C. gigantea
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| Binomial name | |
| Cupressus gigantea W.C.Cheng & L.K.Fu
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| Synonyms | |
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Cupressus gigantea, the Tibetan cypress, is a species of conifer in the family Cupressaceae native to southeastern Tibet (Xizang).[2] It has sometimes been classified as a variety of the western Himalayan Cupressus torulosa on the grounds of somewhat similar morphological characteristics,[3] despite its geographical remoteness of over 1,000 km from that species. Recent genetic studies have since confirmed its original status a separate species.[4]
Distribution
It is endemic to the Nyingchi area in southeast Tibet in China on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, particularly in the valleys of the Nyang River and Yarlung Tsangpo River in the dry rain shadow of the northern side of the Himalaya.[3][5] With its very stout trunk, Cupressus gigantea is the largest, though not the tallest, of all Cupressus species; the latter status goes to the 100 m tall Cupressus austrotibetica in the wetter temperate rainforest regions of the Tsangpo drainage further southeast with greater monsoon influence.
Description
Tibetan cypress is a large tree, typically growing to 45 metres (148 ft), sometimes 50 m (160 ft) tall and typically 3 m (9.8 ft) or more trunk diameter, with thick, stringy-furrowed, grey-brown bark. The foliage is glaucous greyish-green, with shoots 1.5-2 mm diameter covered in scale-leaves arranged in opposite decussate pairs. The cones are 15-20 mm long and 13-16 mm diameter, usually with 12 scales.[2][3]
Notable specimens
The biggest known specimen is the famous King Cypress, about 50 m (160 ft) high, 5.8 m (19 ft) diameter, and with an estimated age of 2,600 years.[6]
References
- ↑ Zhang, D.; Qin, H.-n.; Christian, T.; Rushforth, K. (2013). "Cupressus gigantea". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T32336A2815433.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/32336/2815433. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Cupressus gigantea in Flora of China @ efloras.org". http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=200005417.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Farjon, Aljos (2005). A Monograph of Cupressaceae and Sciadopitys. Kew: Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. pp. 224–226. ISBN 1-84246-068-4.
- ↑ Fu, Yaru; Li, Shaoke; Guo, Qiqiang; Zheng, Weilie; Yang, Rui; Li, Huie (2019-02-21). "Genetic diversity and population structure of two endemic Cupressus (Cupressaceae) species on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau" (in en). Journal of Genetics 98 (1): 14. doi:10.1007/s12041-019-1059-4. ISSN 0973-7731. PMID 30945670.
- ↑ Li, Shaoke; Qian, Zengqiang; Fu, Yaru; Zheng, Weilie; Li, Huie (2014). "Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellites in the Tibetan cypress Cupressus gigantea using paired-end Illumina shotgun sequencing" (in en). Conservation Genetics Resources 6 (3): 795–797. doi:10.1007/s12686-014-0222-8. ISSN 1877-7252.
- ↑ "King of Cypress in World" Garden Opens in Tibet
Template:Cupressaceae Wikidata ☰ Q1890300 entry
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