Cupressaceae
The Cypress Family
Gymnosperm Phylogeny with required
families emphasized:
30 genera
140 species
Distribution:
Worldwide, from sea level to mountain peaks.
Some taxa are adapted to extreme
environments. Many genera and species of this
family show restricted, relictual distributions
and many are endangered.
Economic Uses:
- Many species are important timber trees,
and are also planted as ornamentals.
- Some shrub species are of horticultural
value, especially junipers.
- A few cypress trees are cultivated to a
small extent as Christmas trees.
- The fleshy cones of Juniperus communis
are used to flavor gin.
- Calocedrus decurrens is the main wood
used to make wooden pencils and
clipboards.
- Redwoods (Sequoioideae) are the largest
and tallest trees in the world.
Prepared by: Mischa Olson
Year updated: Spring 2013
Characteristic features:
- Monoecious, subdioecious or (rarely)
dioecious shrubs and trees.
- Leaves scale-like to linear.
- Female cones: ovules 1-20 per cone scale;
cone scales fused to bracts.
- Male cones: microsporangia 2-10 per
microsporophyll; pollen without
appendages.
Required genus: Juniperus
- Female seed cones: distinctive, fleshy fruitlike coalescing scales which fuse together
to form a “berry”.
- Many junipers have two types of leaves:
seedlings with needle-like leaves and
manture plants with tiny, overlapping
scale-like leaves.
References for further inquiry:
- Bell PR and Hemsley AR. 2001. Green Plants:
Their Origin and Diversity. Second Edition.
New York (NY): Cambridge University Press.
349 pp.
- Encyclopedia Britannica. 2012. “gymnosperm.”
Encyclopedia Britannica Online Academic
Edition. Encyclopedia Britannica Inc., 2012.
Web. 08 Oct. 2012.
http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/
250316/gymnosperm