Chamaecyparis lawsoniana
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| Lawson's Cypress Conservation status: Vulnerable | ||||||||||||||
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| Missing image LawsonsCypress.jpg Lawson's Cypress foliage with cones immature seed cones below, pollen cones above | ||||||||||||||
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Chamaecyparis lawsoniana is a cypress in the genus Chamaecyparis, family Cupressaceae, known by the name Lawson's Cypress, or (inaccurately, as it is not a cedar), Port Orford "Cedar", native to the southwest of Oregon and the far northwest of California in the United States, occurring from sea level up to 1500 m altitude in mountain valleys, often along streams.
It is a large evergreen coniferous tree, regularly reaching 50-70 m (200 ft) tall, with feathery foliage in flat sprays, usually somewhat glaucous blue-green in colour. The leaves are scale-like, 3-5 mm long, with narrow white markings on the underside, and produced on somewhat flattened shoots. The seed cones are globose, 7-14 mm diameter, with 6-10 scales, green at first, maturing brown in early fall, 6-8 months after pollination. The male cones are 3-4 mm long, dark red, turning brown after pollen release in early spring. The bark is reddish-brown, and fibrous to scaly in vertical strips.
It was first discovered near Port Orford in Oregon and introduced into cultivation in 1854, by collectors working for the Lawson & Son nursery in Edinburgh, Scotland, after whom it was named as Lawson's Cypress by the describing botanist Andrew Murray. The USDA (http://plants.usda.gov/cgi_bin/topics.cgi?earl=plant_profile.cgi&symbol=CHLA) officially calls it by the name Port Orford Cedar, as do most people in its native area, but as it is not a cedar, many botanists prefer to avoid the name, using Lawson's Cypress, or in very rare instances Port Orford Cypress, instead to stop confusion. The horticultural industry, in which the species is very important, mostly uses the name Lawson's Cypress.
Cultivation and uses
It is of great importance in horticulture, with several hundred named cultivars of varying crown shape, growth rates and foliage colour having been selected for garden planting. It thrives best in well-drained but moist soils. The wood is light and durable, and particularly highly valued in east Asia, with large amounts being exported to Japan where it is in high demand for making coffins.
Disease
In the wild, the species is seriously threatened by a root disease caused by the introduced fungal pathogen, Phytophthora lateralis. This disease is also a problem for horticultural plantings in some parts of North America. The tree is sometimes killed, though less often, by other species of Phytophthora.
Phytophthora lateralis infection begins when mycelium, from a germinated spore, invade the roots. The infection then spreads through the inner bark and cambium around the base of the tree. Spread up the trunk is generally limited. Infected tissue dies and effectively girdles the tree. large trees are more likely to be infected than small trees due to larger root areas (although all trees at the edges of infected streams will eventually succumb). However, large trees can often live with the infections for a longer duration (up to several years).
Port Orford "Cedar" in streamside populations are highly susceptible to Phytophthora lateralis infection. However, the rate of Phytophthora spread through populations in dry upland areas appears to be slow. Phytophthora lateralis spreads through water via mobile spores (zoospores). The fungus also produces resting spores (chlamydospores) that can persist in soil for a long period of time. New infections generally begin when soil is transfered from an infected population to a non-infected population via human or animal movement. After intial infection in streamside populations secondary spread via zoospores quickly infects all downstream individuals.
Human facilitated spread is thought to be responsible for most new, and all long-distance, infections. Soil on vehicle tires, especially logging trucks and other off road vehicles, is considered the most pressing problem due to the volume of soil that can be carried and the traffic rate in and between susceptible areas. Spread on boots and mountain bike tires has also been suggested and probably contributes to new infections locally. Animal faciliated spread is thought to occur, but is localized.
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and United States Forest Service (USFS) attempt to prevent Phytophthora spread through road closures, monitoring, research and education. Research has focused on determning the dynamics and mechanisms of spread, as well as attempts to breed resistant trees.
References
- Siskyou National Forest has posted precautions for persons entering areas with Port Orford Cedar populations ([1] (http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/siskiyou/poc1.htm)).
- Jules, E.S., M.J. Kaufmann, W. Ritts, & A.L. Carroll. 2002. Spread of an invasive pathogen over a variable landscape: a non-native root rot on Chamaecyparis lawsoniana. Ecology 83: 3167-3181.
- Hunt, J. 1959. Phytophthora lateralis on Port-Orford-cedar. Research Note 172: 1-6. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station.
- Roth, L. F., Trione, E. J., & Ruhmann, W. H. 1957. Phytophthora induced root rot of native Port-Orford-cedar. Journal of Forestry 55: 294-298.
- Torgeson, D. C., Young, R. A., & Milbrath, J. A. 1954. Phytophthora root rot diseases of Lawson cypress and other ornamentals. Oregon Agric. Exp. Stn. Bull. 537: 1-18. Corvallis, OR: Oregon State College.
- Trione, E J. 1959. The pathology of Phytophthora lateralis on native Chamaecyparis lawsoniana. Phytopathology 49: 306-310.
- Tucker, C. M.; Milbrath, J.A. 1942. Root rot of Chamaecyparis caused by a species of Phytophthora. Mycologia. 34: 94-103.
- Zobel, D. B., Roth, L. F., & Hawk, G. M. 1985. Ecology, pathology, and management of Chamaecyparis lawsoniana. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-184: 1-161. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station.da:Lawsoncypres (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana)