Cupressus gigantea explained

Cupressus gigantea, the Tibetan cypress, is a species of conifer in the family Cupressaceae in Asia. C. gigantea was previously classified as a subspecies of Cupressus torulosa because of their similar morphological characteristics and close distribution, but have since been genetically distinguished as separate species.[1]

Distribution

It is endemic to Southeast Tibet - China on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, particularly in the dry valleys of Nyang River and Yarlung Tsangpo River.[2] Cupressus gigantea is the biggest of all Cupressus species.

King cypress

The biggest known specimen is the famous King Cypress, about 50 meters high, 5.8 meters in diameter, 0.165acres of crown-projection-area; and calculated age of 2,600 years.

Notes and References

  1. Fu. Yaru. Li. Shaoke. Guo. Qiqiang. Zheng. Weilie. Yang. Rui. Li. Huie. 2019-02-21. Genetic diversity and population structure of two endemic Cupressus (Cupressaceae) species on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau. Journal of Genetics. en. 98. 1. 14. 10.1007/s12041-019-1059-4. 30945670. 67790943. 0973-7731.
  2. Li. Shaoke. Qian. Zengqiang. Fu. Yaru. Zheng. Weilie. Li. Huie. 2014. Isolation and characterization of polymorphic microsatellites in the Tibetan cypress Cupressus gigantea using paired-end Illumina shotgun sequencing. Conservation Genetics Resources. en. 6. 3. 795–797. 10.1007/s12686-014-0222-8. 14927898. 1877-7252.