BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Cupressus goveniana | Gowen Cypress 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Gowen cypress is a native, evergreen tree.  The typical subspecies
(Cupressus goveniana ssp. goveniana) has a bushy growth form and grows
from 16.5 to 23 feet (5-7 m) tall [5,18,27].  Mendocino cypress has a
single, slender trunk and sparse crown [18,27].  It grows from 3.3 to
6.6 feet (1-2 m) tall on sterile soils and from 33 to 165 feet (10-50 m)
tall on richer soils [5,18,27].  Mature leaves of both subspecies are
0.04 to 0.08 inches (1-2 mm) long, although they can be up to 0.4 inch
(10 mm) long on vigorous shoots [27].  Ovulate cones are solitary, up to
0.8 inch (20 mm) long.  Staminate cones are 0.12 to 0.16 inch (3-4 mm)
long [18,27].  The bark is smooth and fibrous, becoming rougher with
age.  It can be several centimeters thick [5,27].  The bark of Mendocino
cypress occurs in strips, peeling easily after death of the tree, but
otherwise intact [27].  Gowen cypress forms a well-defined taproot and
numerous laterals the first year [8,27].  The root systems of
Gowen cypress are extensive and shallow, less than 1 foot (30 cm) deep
[26].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Phanerophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Gowen cypress reproduces exclusively from seed.  Mendocino cypress cone
production is abundant on dwarfed and mature trees, but is rare or
absent on young vigorous trees [27].  Staminate cones are usually first
produced when trees are 6 to 7 years old, but have developed on 1- and
2-year-old seedlings of Mendocino cypress and Gowen cypress (Cupressus
goveniana ssp. goveniana), respectively [8,27].  Ovulate cones are
produced on trees that are 4 years of age or older.  The cones require 2
years to mature [1,27], and contain from 90 to 130 seeds [8,27].  The
cones of California cyress are closed; they persist on the tree until
opened by the heat of a fire or from desiccation due to age [8,26].
Seeds are shed gradually over several months after the cones open [26].
Detached cones will open, but they rarely result in seedling
establishment, usually due to lack of a suitable seedbed [1].  Seed
dispersal is primarily by wind and rain [26].

Gowen cypress germination rates range from 23 to 53 percent [16].  Seeds
require bare mineral soil for germination and establishment.  Seedling
mortality is high on shaded sites with abundant litter because of
damping-off fungi [1,26].  Seedlings are sensitive to excessive moisture
[27].
 


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Gowen cypress is confined to poorly drained, acidic, podzolic soils,
usually on exposed sites [16,26].  In Mendocino County, these areas are
flooded during the winter, forming shallow bogs or ponds [26,27].

Gowen cypress (Cupressus goveniana ssp. goveniana) occurs at elevations
from 100 to 990 feet (30-300 m).  Mendocino cypress occurs at elevations
below 1,650 feet (500 m) [26].


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Facultative Seral Species

Site requirements for cypress seedlings are typical of those for pioneer
conifers.  Seedlings are shade intolerant and survive best in full
sunlight on bare mineral soil [1,26].  According to Armstrong [1],
cypress trees of southern California are very sensitive to lack of
light, losing their foliage when growing in shade.  


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Cypress species pollination occurs in late fall and spring [27].  Seeds
mature 15 to 18 months after pollination.  Ovulate cones remain closed
until opened by heat or age [8,27].

Related categories for Species: Cupressus goveniana | Gowen Cypress