Atlas cypress

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Atlas cypress
Cupressus atlantica0.jpg

Atlas cypress ( Cupressus dupreziana var.atlantica )

Systematics
Order : Conifers (Coniferales)
Family : Cypress family (Cupressaceae)
Subfamily : Cupressoideae
Genre : Cypress trees ( Cupressus )
Type : Sahara cypress ( Cupressus dupreziana )
Variety : Atlas cypress
Scientific name
Cupressus dupreziana var. Atlantica
( Gaussen ) Silba

The Atlas cypress ( Cupressus dupreziana var. Atlantica , Syn. : Cupressus atlantica ), and Morocco cypress called, is a variety of the Saharan Cypress ( Cupressus dupreziana ) in the family of the cypress family (Cupressaceae). It is endemic to western Morocco .

description

The atlas cypress grows as an evergreen tree . The Atlas cypress is similar to the related Mediterranean cypress ( Cupressus sempervirens ), but differs in its blue colored leaves with a white resin stain on each leaf. The smaller branches are often in one plane. It has smaller cones that are only 1.5 to 2.5 cm long.

It is very similar to the Sahara cypress ( Cupressus dupreziana ) with its even more distinctly blue leaves and is considered by some authors to be its variety.

Side note

The atlas cypress reproduces sexually. The male apomixis , which occurs in the Sahara cypress as a specialization in extreme habitats, does not occur.

Occurrence and endangerment

The Atlas cypress is endemic to the valley of the Oued-n-Fis River in the High Atlas south of Marrakech in western Morocco .

Most of the specimens are old and there are hardly any offspring due to overgrazing by goats.

swell

further reading

  • Christopher J. Earle: Cupressus atlantica. In: The Gymnosperm Database. December 14, 2010, accessed on December 5, 2011 (English, the information has not yet been used and can still be incorporated here).