Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)

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Cupressus lusitanica
Mill., Cupressaceae
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Present on Pacific Islands?  no

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  yes

Risk assessment results:  Low risk (based on second screen), score: 6 (Go to the risk assessment)

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Arizona cypress, Mexican cypress, Portuguese cypress, cedar of Goa

Spanish: cipres

Tongan: sialesi

Habit:  tree

Description:  "A tree attaining 25-30 m in height. Crown broadly pyramidal, in older trees broad with pendulous branches. Bark thick, reddish-brown, with longitudinal fissures. Shoots quadrangular, pendulous, not in a single plane. Foliage distinctly bluish-green, four-ranked, ovate, closely pressed, usually with long, pointed apex. Cones globose, ca 12 mm across, bluish-green in the juvenile stage, turning dark brown when they ripen, they open and later fall, composed of 6-8 scales with a central strong, reflexed umbo, erect on the upper scales. Seeds about 75 to a cone, brown, with resin glands, about 4 mm long together with a narrow wing" (Vidakovic, 1991)

"To 75 ft., with somewhat drooping branchlets; leaves acute, glaucous-green; female cones 1/2 in. across; glaucous" (Bailey & Bailey, 1976; p. 346).

Habitat/ecology:  "This tree is grown in many countries as a garden ornamental and in commercial forestry plantations throughout the tropical and temperate world, including Australia. Hnatiuk (1990) listed the plant as being naturalised in Queensland and Carr et al., (1992) recorded the plant as having established localised populations in riparian vegetation in Victoria." (Csurhes & Edwards, 1998; p. 104). In the tropics, planted at higher elevations.

Propagation:  Wind-blown seed (Csurhes & Edwards, 1998; p. 104).

Native range:  "Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica at altitudes from 1200 to 3000 m. It is doubtful whether this species is native to El Salvador, Nicaragua and Costa Rica" (Styles & Hughes, 1983; pp. 290-291).

Presence:

Pacific
Country/Terr./St. &
Island group
Location Cited status &
Cited as invasive &
Cited as cultivated &
Cited as aboriginal introduction?
Reference &
Comments
Australia (Pacific offshore islands)
Norfolk Islands
Norfolk Island introduced
invasive
cultivated
Orchard, Anthony E., ed. (1994) (p. 12)
"A widely cultivated native of Mexico. Saplings develop spontaneously from seed around planted trees". Voucher cited: R.O. Gardner 5881 (AK)
State of Hawaii
Hawaiian Islands
O‘ahu Island introduced
invasive
cultivated
Frohlich, Danielle/Lau, Alex (2012) (pp. 34-35)
Voucher cited: U.S. Army 177 (BISH)
New Caledonia
New Caledonia Archipelago
Île Grande Terre introduced
cultivated
MacKee, H. S. (1994) (pp. 64-65)
Voucher cited: MacKee 12168
Tonga
Tongatapu Group
Tongatapu Island   National Tropical Botanical Garden (U.S.A. Hawaii. Kalaheo.) (1989) (voucher ID: PTBG 3030)
Taxon name on voucher: Cupressus lusitanica
Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. &
Island group
Location Cited status &
Cited as invasive &
Cited as cultivated &
Cited as aboriginal introduction?
Reference &
Comments
Australia
Australia (continental)
Queensland introduced
invasive
cultivated
Csurhes, S./Edwards, R. (1998) (p. 104)
Naturalized
Central America
Central America (Pacific rim)
Costa Rica (Republic of) probably introduced
Styles, B. T./Hughes, C. E. (1983) (pp. 269-291)
Central America
Central America (Pacific rim)
El Salvador (Republic of) probably introduced
Styles, B. T./Hughes, C. E. (1983) (pp. 269-291)
Central America
Central America (Pacific rim)
Guatemala (Republic of) native
Styles, B. T./Hughes, C. E. (1983) (pp. 269-291)
Central America
Central America (Pacific rim)
Honduras (Republic of) native
Styles, B. T./Hughes, C. E. (1983) (pp. 269-291)
Central America
Central America (Pacific rim)
Nicaragua (Republic of) probably introduced
Styles, B. T./Hughes, C. E. (1983) (pp. 269-291)
China
China
China (People's Republic of) introduced
cultivated
Zhengyi, Wu/Raven, Peter H./Deyuan, Hong (2013)
Mexico
Mexico
Mexico (United Mexican States) native
Styles, B. T./Hughes, C. E. (1983) (pp. 269-291)

Comments:  Reported to be a potentially invasive species in Australia per Csurhes and Edwards, 1998.

Control:  If you know of control methods for Cupressus lusitanica, please let us know.


Need more info? Have questions? Comments? Information to contribute? Contact PIER! (pier@hear.org)

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This page was created on 16 JAN 2004 and was last updated on 28 AUG 2010.