Callitropsis macrocarpa (Hartw.) D.P.Little

Common Names : Monterey Cypress

Flowering Period : September-March

Distribution : Native of north America

Habitat : Grown as ornamental/avenue tree

Uses : Grown as ornamental/avenue tree. A decoction of the foliage has been used in the treatment of rheumatism. A good fast growing hedge or shelterbelt tree, tolerating maritime exposure. Wood - heavy, hard, strong, close-grained and very durable. Used for general construction.

Key Characters :

Trees to 20 m; branches hortizontal, obscurely whorled; bark reddish-brown, ridged; branchlets 2-pinnate, alternate, ascending, 4-angled. Leaves 3-angular, scale-like, appressed, 0.2 cm, 4-ranked. Male catkins oblong, 0.3 cm; stamens 6-8 each, with many-celled pollen sacs, female catkins club-shaped, 0.6 cm at pollination, with 6-14 reflexed, thin-edged, brownish, peltate, scales each with numerous ovules. Cones subglobose, to 3.5 x 2.5 cm, brown when ripe; scales flat-topped, each with a central crescent-shaped process. Seeds 16-20 per scale, to 0.2 cm, narrowly winged, tubercled.