Chinese Cypress

Trees to 25 m tall; trunk to 80 cm d.b.h.; crown conical when young, rounded or broadly domed when old; branches densely arranged; branchlets spreading or drooping but not pendulous, thin, ultimate ones 4-angled, 0.8-1 mm in diam. Leaves closely appressed, slightly glaucous abaxially, 1-2 mm on ultimate branchlets, ridged or ± gibbous with an inconspicuous or more visible abaxial gland, base long decurrent on leading branchlets, apex acute or slightly obtuse. Pollen cones subglobose or oblong, (4-)5-7 mm; microsporophylls (12-)16-20. Seed cones dark brown or purplish brown when ripe, glaucous, globose, 1.5-3.2 cm in diam.; cone scales (6-)8-10, each fertile scale with numerous seeds. Seeds brown or purplish brown, 3-5 mm, with 3 ridges. 2n = 22*.

?Guizhou, SW Sichuan, C and NW Yunnan, SE Xizang

* Forests on mountain slopes; 1400-3300 m.

Cupressus austrotibetica Silba.

Cupressus duclouxiana, known commonly as the Chinese cypress or Yunnan cypress, is a species of conifer in the cypress family, Cupressaceae. It is endemic to China, where it is known from Yunnan and Sichuan. It grows in deep river gorges. Its habitat is mountain forest where it occurs alongside the Sikang pine (Pinus densata) and various oaks, chinquapins, and chestnuts.

Most old-growth stands of this tree have been cut down, and it is still threatened by logging in many areas.