Mexican cedar

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Mexican cedar
• Mexican cypress
• cedar of Goa

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cupressus lusitanica var. lindleyi
• Cupressus lusitanica var. skinneri
• Cupressus lusitanica var. tristis
• Cupressus benthamii var. lindleyi
• Cupressus glauca
• Cupressus lindleyi
• Hesperocyparis lindleyi
• Hesperocyparis lindleyi subsp. hondurensis
• Cupressus lusitanica subsp. mexicana
• Juniperus uhdeana
• Cupressus lusitanica var. uhdeana
• Cupressus lusitanica var. glauca
• Cupressus glauca var. tristis
• Cupressus uhdeana
• Cupressus mexicana
• Cupressus coulteri
• Cupressus karwinskiana
• Cupressus excelsa
• Cupressus lusitanica var. chlorocarpa
• Cupressus sinensis
• Cupressus coerulea var. nana
• Cupressus lusitanica glauca-pendula
• Callitropsis lusitanica
• Neocupressus lusitanica
• Cupressus lusitanica var. communis
• Neocupressus lusitanica var. lindleyi
• Cupressus lusitanica var. epruinosa
• Cupressus lusitanica subsp. genuina
• Cupressus lusitanica var. hondurensis
• Cupressus lusitanica f. vulgaris
• Cupressus lindleyi var. hondurensis
• Cupressus lindleyi subsp. hondurensis
• Cupressus lusitanica
• Cupressus assamica
• Hesperocyparis lusitanica var. lindleyi

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Pinidae and order Pinales, it is classified under the family Cupressaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Hesperocyparis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution that spans across several continents. In Northern Europe, its presence can be noted within Great Britain. Moving toward Southwestern Europe, the species is found throughout both Portugal and Spain. Its range extends further east into Southeastern Europe, specifically within Italy. Finally, the plant reaches Northeast Tropical Africa, where it is located in Eritrea.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Hesperocyparis lusitanica is characterized by a versatile adaptive capacity, primarily found within cultivated environments where it is managed for various purposes. This species occupies a broad vertical distribution across diverse landscapes, thriving at elevations ranging from a minimum of 275 m AMSL to a maximum of 3000 m AMSL. This extensive elevational range allows the plant to encounter a wide variety of altitudinal gradients and associated microclimates.

Elevational range max:

3000 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

275 m AMSL

Habitat :

cultivated

Life history

The life history of Hesperocyparis lusitanica is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, it maintains its photosynthetic organs on elevated structures above the ground, specifically functioning as a phanerophyte to ensure survival against various environmental stressors. Throughout its existence, the species exhibits an evergreen deciduousness, retaining its foliage year-round rather than shedding it seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cupressus lusitanica is characterized by its robust, woody growth form, typically manifesting as a large tree. It is a self-supporting, independent organism that does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, nor does it exhibit parasitic or epiphytic behavior, maintaining a strictly terrestrial existence. The plant reaches significant dimensions, with a height ranging from a minimum of 25 meters to a maximum of 30 meters, maintaining an average height of approximately 30 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

30 m

Plant height min:

25 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Hesperocyparis lusitanica is characterized by specific metabolic and morphological adaptations suited to its environmental niche. It utilizes a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a standard mechanism for temperate conifers that relies on the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the enzyme Rubisco. Morphologically, the plant exhibits highly reduced foliage, with a leaf length reaching a maximum of only 0.2 cm, a trait that contributes to its structural efficiency. Unlike many desert-adapted species, it does not exhibit succulence, maintaining a non-succulent tissue structure. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on external soil nitrogen sources rather than symbiotic diazotrophic processes to support its nutrient requirements.

Leaf length max:

0.2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Hesperocyparis lusitanica is characterized by an abiotic pollination syndrome, specifically utilizing wind as the primary mechanism for pollen transfer. Following successful fertilization, the plant produces fruits with an average width of 1.5 cm. The resulting seeds are relatively small and uniform in dimension, featuring a consistent seed length of 4 mm (with both minimum and maximum values recorded at 4 mm). These seeds exhibit a mean mass of approximately 0.00456025 g, with individual weights ranging from a minimum of 0.003811 g to a maximum of 0.00584 g. For the distribution of offspring, the species employs an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on wind to transport its seeds away from the parent plant.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Fruit width mean:

1.5 cm

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Seed length mean:

4 mm

Seed mass max:

0.00584 g

Seed mass mean:

0.00456025 g

Seed mass min:

0.003811 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Hesperocyparis lusitanica has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. Environmental toxicology and pharmacology

Root

1. Environmental toxicology and pharmacology

Chemicals

Hesperocyparis lusitanica has 9 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include ALPHA-PINENE, EICOSANE, HEPTACOSANE, Kaurenoic acid, PIMARIC ACID.

ALPHA-PINENE

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

EICOSANE

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

HEPTACOSANE

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Kaurenoic acid

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

PIMARIC ACID

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

TRICOSANE

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

beta-Himachalene

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

epi-bicyclosesquiphellandrene

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

epi-zonarene

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Hesperocyparis lusitanica has 5 reported preparations identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Methanol extracts from the bark, Methanol extracts from the leaves, Methanol extracts from the roots, crude extract, hexanic leaf extract.

Methanol extracts from the bark

1. Environmental toxicology and pharmacology

Methanol extracts from the leaves

1. Environmental toxicology and pharmacology

Methanol extracts from the roots

1. Environmental toxicology and pharmacology

Crude extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hexanic leaf extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology