Cupressus cashmeriana, the Bhutan cypress[ is a species of evergreen conifer native species to the eastern Himalaya in Bhutan and adjacent areas of Arunachal Pradesh in northeastern India. . It is also introduced in China and Nepal.][ Cupressus cashmeriana. The Gymnosperm Database.]
Description
Cupressus cashmeriana is a medium-sized to large tree growing tall, rarely much more, with a trunk up to diameter. The foliage grows in strongly pendulous sprays of blue-green, very slender, flattened shoots. The leaf 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.[
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The seed conifer cone 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.
A tree of tall has recently been reported,[Farjon, A. (2005). Monograph of Cupressaceae and Sciadopitys. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. ] but the measurements await verification.
Conservation
The natural populations of this species are fragmented. There are few occurrences and they contain few large individuals. Cypress wood is in demand locally.
Cultivation
Cupressus cashmeriana is widely grown horticulture as an ornamental plant, both within its native region and internationally in temperate climates. It is planted in private and public urban park, although generally regarded as sensitive to drought and wind.
This plant has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit[
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Some healthy specimens have been reported in Canberra, Australia.
Symbolism
The Bhutan cypress is the official national tree of Bhutan, where it is often associated with Buddhist religious places. It has been widely planted around Vihara and Buddhist temples there for centuries.
Notable specimen
A notable specimen of Cupressus cashmeriana is situated in front of the palace on Isola Madre, the largest of the Borromean Islands in Lake Maggiore. The seeds for the tree were sent back from the Himalayan region by a correspondent of the Borromeo family, William B. Pentland, in June 1862. By 1915, the Isola Madre specimen was noted as the best in Northern Italy and measured 60 ft. high, 6 ft. in girth, its branches covering an area of over 35 paces in circumference.
