VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Cupressus arizonica | Arizona Cypress 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
The wood of Arizona cypress is light, moderately soft, close-grained,
and has a specific gravity of 0.48.  The wood is durable when seasoned
properly [64].  It is suitable for sashes, doors, and blinds [24].
There are not enough large, accessible populations of Arizona cypress to
make it commercially important, though it is sometimes cut locally for
rough construction and fenceposts [24].


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Rodents consume cypress seeds [1].


PALATABILITY : 
NO-ENTRY


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


COVER VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Arizona cypress is sometimes planted on disturbed sites for erosion
control [64].  Direct seeding is slightly better than transplanting for
successful establishment.  Arizona cypress's ability to stabilize soil
and adapt to disturbed areas is rated as moderate; it is suitable for
either acidic or alkaline soils [48].  Everett and others [13] reported
that Arizona cypress had low survival (40 percent) when planted for
revegetation of mine spoils in central California, where frost heaving
was a problem.


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
Arizona cypress is valued as an ornamental.  It is also planted for
windbreaks [64] and is cultivated for Christmas trees [22].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
The limited distribution of Arizona cypress varieties in the United
States has raised concerns about the risk of its extinction [68].  Posey
and Goggans [49] reported that they observed little Arizona cypress
reproduction anywhere in the Southwest (no specific data, however) and
were concerned that a low reproductive rate may threaten the existence
of the species.
  
Natural stands of Arizona cypress in Texas occur only in Big Bend
National Park and are therefore protected from logging and most other
disturbances.  Groves in southeastern Arizona and southwestern New
Mexico all occur on public lands; some are in National Monuments where
they are protected [32].  Smooth cypress occurs mostly on public lands,
some of which are accessible to logging.  Piute cypress occurs in the
Piute Cypress Botanical and Natural Area in Kern County, California, and
in the Bodfish Botanical Area, and is protected.  Cuyamaca cypress, the
rarest variety, is known in the United States from a single grove in the
Cuyamaca Mountains, partly within the Cleveland National Forest and
partly in the Cuyamaca Rancho State Park; it is protected from logging
[32].  This variety is under consideration for listing as federally
endangered; a single large fire could conceivably annihilate the entire
grove.  Wolf [68] suggested that it is feasible to set all areas
occupied by Arizona cypress varieties aside as reserves, eliminate
excessive cutting and grazing, and protect the stands from fire.

Arizona cypress is easily cultivated, which could help protect it
against extinction by fire or other disturbance [32].  It can be
propagated by cuttings or veneer grafting [64].

Seedlings are susceptible to damping-off fungi [22].  San Pedro Martir
cypress is occasionally attacked by mistletoe (Phoradendron bolleanum
ssp. pauciflorum), and Arizona cypress may be infected by P.
juniperinum ssp. juniperum.  Cypress canker attacks most species of
cypress [22].

Related categories for Species: Cupressus arizonica | Arizona Cypress