Monoecious or dioecious
trees or shrubs comprising about 18 genera and 140 species. The leaves linear
and spirally disposed or often scalelike, opposite and decussate, or whorled. The male or microsporangiate
strobili are small and inconspicuous, axillary or terminal, usually comprising only a few
microsporophylls, each with 2-10 microsporangia. The pollen grains lack wings. The
female or megasporangiate strobili are small, usually with 1-12 ovuliferous scales, each fused
with its bract and bearing 1-20 ovules. The scales may be flat and imbricate, peltate, or
connate. The female cone is woody or sometimes fleshy and berrylike.
Each "thumbnail" image below is linked to a larger photograph.
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Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, Port Orford cedar, Avery Park,
Corvallis, OR, 2002. |
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Chamaecyparis nootkatensis, Alaska-cedar. |
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Cupressus macrocarpa, Monterey cypress. A spreading crown like that seen here
is found in many species of this family. This species has female cones with woody, peltate
scales. Note the low number of scales per cone. |
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Cupressus sargentii. Note the scale-like, opposite, decussate leaves. |
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Cupressus sempervirens var. stricta., Italian cypress. |
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Cupressus sp. Note the low number of ovuliferous scales and several seeds per
scale. |
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Juniperis sp., juniper. Sierra Nevada, E. side. |
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Juniperis sp., juniper. |
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Thuja plicata, western red cedar. |
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Calocedrus decurrens, note male (microsporangiate) strobili. Far Right:
microsporophylls, abaxial (lower) surface with 3-4 (or more)
microsporangia (inset at lower magnification showing stalk). |
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Unknown species. Note the whorled scalelike leaves and the low number of ovuliferous
scales per female cone. At this stage the scales are rather fleshy and appear to be
connate. At a later stage of development (right) the scales have dried and reflexed and
the winged seeds have been shed. |
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Cryptomeria sp. |
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Sequoia sempervirens, coast redwood. The middle
photo shows a fallen giant; the third photo shows a
mature female cone. What appear to be young female cones developing at the tips of shoots
may be seen below the mature strobilus. |
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Sequoiadendron gigantea, bigtree. |
