Monterey cypress

Appearance

''Cupressus macrocarpa'' is a medium-sized coniferous evergreen tree, which often becomes irregular and flat-topped as a result of the strong winds that are typical of its native area. It grows to heights of up to 40 m in perfect growing conditions, and its trunk diameter can reach 2.5 m. The foliage grows in dense sprays which are bright green in color and release a deep lemony aroma when crushed. The leaves are scale-like, 2–5 mm long, and produced on rounded shoots; seedlings up to a year old have needle-like leaves 4–8 mm long.

The seed cones are globose to oblong, 20–40 mm long, with 6–14 scales, green at first, maturing brown about 20–24 months after pollination. The pollen cones are 3–5 mm long, and release their pollen in late winter or early spring.

It has been widely reported that individual ''C. macrocarpa'' trees may be up to 2,000 years old, but this is disputed by botanists, and the longest-lived report based on physical evidence is of a tree 284 years old. The renowned Californian botanist Willis Linn Jepson wrote that "the advertisement of [''C. macrocarpa'' trees] in seaside literature as 1,000 to 2,000 years old does not ... rest upon any actual data, and probably represents a desire to minister to a popular craving for superlatives".

Along with other New World ''Cupressus'' species, it has recently been transferred to the genus ''Hesperocyparis'', on genetic evidence that the New World ''Cupressus'' are not very closely related to the Old World ''Cupressus'' species.

Distribution

The two native cypress forest stands are protected, within Point Lobos State Reserve and Del Monte Forest. The natural habitat is noted for its cool, moist summers, almost constantly bathed by sea fog.

This species has been widely planted outside its native range, particularly along the coasts of California and Oregon. Its European distribution includes Great Britain , France, Ireland, Greece, Italy, Portugal, and Sicily. In New Zealand, plantings have naturalized, finding conditions there more favorable than in its native range. It has also been grown experimentally as a timber crop in Kenya.

''Cupressus macrocarpa'' is also found in South Africa. Very close to the Cape of Good Hope is a planted copse of this tree. They were planted to commemorate South African infantry men who lost their lives in the allied cause in Italy and North Africa during WW2. Like their Californian counterparts, the Cape trees are gnarled and wind-sculpted, and very beautiful.