Topic #11: Cupressaceae

• Characteristics of Cupressaceae:

  • Leaves scale like and are arranged in opposite, decussate pairs.
  • Decussate - leaves cross each other, creating an opposite pattern
  • Persists for only 3-5 years
  • Their bark is fibrous and furrowed
  • Their bark may be smooth or exfoliating in plates
  • Ovulate cones are globose or ovoid in shape and may be terminal or axillary
  • Bract and seed scales are fully fuse
  • Monoecious and rarely dioecious
  • Has been expanded to include other genera previously placed in Taxaceae
• Enumerate the all the Genus under Family Cupressaceae:

  • Cupressus
  • Cryptomeria
  • Juniperus
  • Thuja
  • Taxodium
  • Sequioa
• What Cupressus species is being shown in the picture?

  A) Cupressus sempervirens

  
• What Cupressus species is being shown in the picture?

  A) Cupressus macrocarpa

  
• What Cupressus species is being shown in the picture?

  A) Cupressus sempervirens

  
• What Cryptomeria species is being shown in the picture?

  A) Cryptomeria japonica

  
• What Juniperus species is being shown in the picture?

  A) Juniperus californicum

  B) Juniperus horizontalis

  
• What Thuja species is being shown in the picture?

  A) Thuja occidentalis

  
• What Taxodium species is being shown in the picture?

  A) Taxodium ascendens

  
• What Sequioa species is being shown in the picture?

  A) Sequoiadendron giganteum

  
• Genus Juniperus

  • Can be trees or low, spreading shrubs.
• Genus Juniperus

  • Leaves may be needle like (hard and sharp) or scale like.
• Genus Juniperus

  • They are either Monoecious or Dioecious.
• Genus Juniperus

  • Seed cones are fleshy, berry-like structure and are fused scales
• Genus Juniperus

  • Serves as exclusive food of some lepidopteran larvae.
• Genus Thuja

  • Their shoots are flat and leaves are scale-like and tightly appressed to the branches
• Genus Thuja

  • Their scale leaves are arranged in alternating decussate pairs in 4 rows along the twigs.
• Genus Thuja

  • The male cones are small found at the tips of the twigs used for hedges
• Genus Taxodium

  • Formerly classified under Taxaceae
• Genus Taxodium

  • Aka pond cypresses
  • Has caudex-like base called knees, which stores water
• Genus Sequioa

  • Is soft and fibrous and its bark is thick and grows up to 12 inches, and it gets bright red brown when freshly exposed
• Genus Sequioa

  • Leaves are flat or scalelike which grows inspiral.
• Genus Sequioa

  • Seed cones are ovoid while male cones are oval
  • They are monoecious