Chamaecyparis, common names cypress or false cypress (to distinguish it from related cypresses), is a genus of conifers in the cypress family Cupressaceae, native to eastern Asia (Japan and Taiwan) and to the western and eastern margins of the United States.[1] The name is derived from the Greek khamai (χαμαί), meaning “on the earth”, and kuparissos (κυπάρισσος) for “cypress”.[2]
They are medium-sized to large evergreen trees growing from 20–70 m (66–230 ft) tall, with foliage in flat sprays. The leaves are of two types, needle-like juvenile leaves on young seedlings up to a year old, and scale-like adult leaves. The cones are globose to oval, with 8-14 scales arranged in opposite decussate pairs; each scale bears 2-4 small seeds.
Species[1][3]
Chamaecyparis formosensis Matsum. – Taiwan
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (A.Murray) Parl. – California, Oregon, Washington
Chamaecyparis obtusa (Siebold
