Cupressus cashmeriana

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Cupressus cashmeriana

Foliage of Cupressus cashmeriana

Conservation status

Vulnerable

Scientific classification

Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Pinophyta
Class:	Pinopsida
Order:	Pinales
Family:	Cupressaceae
Genus:	Cupressus
Species:	C. cashmeriana

Binomial name

Cupressus cashmeriana
Royle ex Carrière

Cupressus cashmeriana (Bhutan Cypress; Dzongkha language: Tsenden) is a species of cypress native to the eastern Himalaya in Bhutan and adjacent areas of Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India; it grows at moderately high altitudes of 1250-2800 m.

It is a medium-sized to large coniferous tree growing to 20-45 m tall, rarely much more, with a trunk up to 3 m diameter. The foliage grows in strongly pendulous sprays of blue-green, very slender, 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 years old have juvenile foliage with soft needle-like leaves 3-8 mm long. The seed cones are ovoid, 10-21 mm long and 10-19 mm broad, with 8-12 scales, dark 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.

Trees up to 95 m tall have recently been reported (Farjon 2005), but the measurements are not verified; if true, it is the tallest tree in Asia.

[edit] Symbolism and uses

It is the official National tree of Bhutan, where it is often associated with religious places, widely planted around monasteries and temples. It is widely grown as an ornamental tree, both in its native area and elsewhere in warm-temperate climates; many plants outside of the native range are of selected cultivars with particularly bright blue foliage and very pendulous shoots.