Cupressus stephensonii
Encyclopedia
Cupressus stephensonii is a species of conifer known as the Cuyamaca Cypress, and endemic to California
. It is sometimes listed as Cupressus arizonica subsp. stephensonii , and Hesperocyparis stephensonii
, south of Cuyamaca Peak
within San Diego County
in extreme Southern California
.
Trees were reported growing as low as 3000 feet (914.4 m) in elevation in 1998, but the presence of these individuals today has not been verified. Most individual trees occur at 4500–5100 ft (1,371.6–1,554.5 m) within the King Creek Research Natural Area in the Cleveland National Forest
.
. However the last IUCN Red List
assessment occurred in 1998, before the entire native
(world) population of the tree here was reduced to thirty to forty individual trees by the 2003 Cedar Fire
.
Female cones about 10 mm in diameter, cone scales 6-8, but mostly 6, often, but not always, with conspicuous umbos 3-4 mm high and conical. Seeds average 100-125 per cone, not at all glaucous. Cotyledons 3-4. It is the only California Cypress
species to release pollen in the summertime.
of Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica)
, It can be hard to distinguish the two, one of the main distinguishing characteristics is the color of the smooth bark on mature trees which varies from pink to grey to pure white, as well as the mature form which tends to be much more spreading than C. arizonica. The listing of Cupressus stephensonii as a subspecies of Cupressus arizonica is debatable.
The more recent name Hesperocyparis stephensonii is also used by some botanists. Further molecular analysis may help define the taxonomy.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. It is sometimes listed as Cupressus arizonica subsp. stephensonii , and Hesperocyparis stephensonii
Distribution
The Cuyamaca Cypress exists only in the headwaters area of King Creek in the Peninsular RangesPeninsular Ranges
The Peninsular Ranges are a group of mountain ranges, in the Pacific Coast Ranges, which stretch from southern California in the United States to the southern tip of Mexico's Baja California peninsula; they are part of the North American Coast Ranges that run along the Pacific coast from Alaska...
, south of Cuyamaca Peak
Cuyamaca Peak
Cuyamaca Peak is a mountain in San Diego County roughly from the Pacific Ocean, in Cuyamaca Rancho State Park east of San Diego and southwest of Julian...
within San Diego County
San Diego County, California
San Diego County is a large county located in the southwestern corner of the US state of California. Hence, San Diego County is also located in the southwestern corner of the 48 contiguous United States. Its county seat and largest city is San Diego. Its population was about 2,813,835 in the 2000...
in extreme Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
.
Trees were reported growing as low as 3000 feet (914.4 m) in elevation in 1998, but the presence of these individuals today has not been verified. Most individual trees occur at 4500–5100 ft (1,371.6–1,554.5 m) within the King Creek Research Natural Area in the Cleveland National Forest
Cleveland National Forest
Cleveland National Forest encompasses 460,000 acres , mostly of chaparral, with a few riparian areas. A warm dry mediterranean climate prevails over the Forest. It is the southernmost National forest of California. It is administered by the United States Forest Service, a government agency within...
.
Conservation
It is listed as a vulnerable speciesVulnerable species
On 30 January 2010, the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species identified 9694 Vulnerable species, subspecies and varieties, stocks and sub-populations.-References:...
. However the last IUCN Red List
IUCN Red List
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species , founded in 1963, is the world's most comprehensive inventory of the global conservation status of biological species. The International Union for Conservation of Nature is the world's main authority on the conservation status of species...
assessment occurred in 1998, before the entire native
Native plant
Native plant is a term to describe plants endemic or naturalized to a given area in geologic time.This includes plants that have developed, occur naturally, or existed for many years in an area...
(world) population of the tree here was reduced to thirty to forty individual trees by the 2003 Cedar Fire
Cedar Fire
The Cedar Fire was a human-caused wildfire that burned out of control through a large area of San Diego County, in Southern California, in October 2003...
.
Description
Cupressus stephensonii may attain heights of 10 to 16 m (32.8 to 52.5 ft). It usually forms a spreading tree with a central leader, only slightly taller than it is wide.Female cones about 10 mm in diameter, cone scales 6-8, but mostly 6, often, but not always, with conspicuous umbos 3-4 mm high and conical. Seeds average 100-125 per cone, not at all glaucous. Cotyledons 3-4. It is the only California Cypress
Cupressus
The genus Cupressus is one of several genera within the family Cupressaceae that have the common name cypress; for the others, see cypress. It is considered a polyphyletic group...
species to release pollen in the summertime.
Taxonomy variations
Cupressus stephensonii is sometimes listed as Cupressus arizonica subsp. stephensonii, as subspeciesSubspecies
Subspecies in biological classification, is either a taxonomic rank subordinate to species, ora taxonomic unit in that rank . A subspecies cannot be recognized in isolation: a species will either be recognized as having no subspecies at all or two or more, never just one...
of Arizona cypress (Cupressus arizonica)
Cupressus arizonica
Cupressus arizonica, the Arizona Cypress, is a species of cypress native to the southwest of North America, in the United States in Arizona, southwest New Mexico, southern California, and the Chisos Mountains of west Texas, and in Mexico in Coahuila, Chihuahua, Durango, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas and...
, It can be hard to distinguish the two, one of the main distinguishing characteristics is the color of the smooth bark on mature trees which varies from pink to grey to pure white, as well as the mature form which tends to be much more spreading than C. arizonica. The listing of Cupressus stephensonii as a subspecies of Cupressus arizonica is debatable.
The more recent name Hesperocyparis stephensonii is also used by some botanists. Further molecular analysis may help define the taxonomy.