| Hesperocyparis lusitanica | |
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| Hesperocyparis lusitanica inJalisco, Mexico | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Gymnospermae |
| Division: | Pinophyta |
| Class: | Pinopsida |
| Order: | Cupressales |
| Family: | Cupressaceae |
| Genus: | Hesperocyparis |
| Species: | H. lusitanica |
| Binomial name | |
| Hesperocyparis lusitanica (Mill.) Bartel | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
List
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Hesperocyparis lusitanica, theMexican cypress,cedar-of-Goa orGoa cedar, is a species ofcypress native toMexico andCentral America (Guatemala,El Salvador andHonduras). It has also been introduced toBelize,Costa Rica andNicaragua, growing at 1,200–3,000 metres (3,900–9,800 ft) altitude.
The scientific namelusitanica (ofPortugal) refers to its very early cultivation there, with plants imported from Mexico to the monastery atBuçaco, nearCoimbra in Portugal in about 1634; these trees were already over 130 years old when the species was botanically described byMiller in 1768.
In Mexico, the tree is also known ascedro blanco (white cedar) orteotlate.
Hesperocyparis lusitanica is anevergreenconifer tree with a conic to ovoid-conic crown, growing to 40 m tall. The foliage grows in dense sprays, dark green to somewhat yellow-green in colour. The leaves are scale-like, 2–5 mm long, and produced on rounded (not flattened) shoots. The seedcones are globose to oblong, 10–20 mm long, with four to 10 scales, green at first, maturing brown or grey-brown about 25 months after pollination.
The cones may either open at maturity to release the seeds, or remain closed for several years, only opening after the parent tree is killed in awildfire, allowing theseeds to colonise the bare ground exposed by the fire. The male cones are 3–4 mm long, and release pollen in late Winter / Early Spring (February–March in the northern hemisphere). In most of its natural environment the rainfall occurs with more quantity in summer.
Hesperocyparis lusitanica was given its first scientific name by the botanistPhilip Miller who named itCupressus lusitanica in 1768,[2] because he described it from collections made in Portugal.[3] The species has a large number ofsynonyms and the speciesHesperocyparis benthamii has been treated asvariety orsubspecies ofH. lusitanica.[4] In 2009 a paper was published moving this species and most of the New WorldCupressus to the new genusHesperocyparis.[2] As of 2024[update] this is listed as the accepted species name with no subspecies or varieties byPlants of the World Online,[2]World Flora Online,[5] and the Gymnosperm Database.[3]
Fast-growing and drought tolerant, but only slightly frost tolerant,Hesperocyparis lusitanica has been introduced from Mexico to different parts of the world like New Zealand.[6] It is widely cultivated, both as anornamental tree and fortimber production, in warm, temperate and subtropical regions around the world. Trees have not been selected for cultivation from northern Mexico populations, which have a heavy drought endurance.[7]
Its cultivation and subsequentnaturalisation in parts of southernAsia has caused a degree of confusion with nativeCupressus species in that region; plants sold by nurseries under the names of Asian species such asCupressus torulosa often prove to be this species.
It has been planted widely for commercial production: at high altitudes inColombia (3,300 m, 10,800 ft),Bolivia,Ethiopia andSouth Africa, and near sea level throughoutNew Zealand.[6] InColombia trees are planted to formwindbreak hedges and for preventing soil erosion on slopes. It has been planted byTanzanian mountain farmers for soil preservation and commercial use since the 1990s.[8]
It has been planted as an ornamental tree near sea level in temperate climates and has done very well inPortugal,Buenos Aires Province inArgentina;Austin, Texas and theBritish Isles where it can reach a height of 30 m (90 feet).
It is being planted in the Argentine province ofSan Luis,[9]Argentina at 1,500 m (4,900 ft) above sea level to create artificial forests in a land originally lacking them in a very similar climate to that of its native habitat.
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