Chamaecyparis is a genus of seven species of cypresses, native to eastern Asia and North America. They occur in regions with high rainfall and humidity, and are trees growing to 20-70 metres tall with flattened sprays of foliage with scale leaves. They differ from cypresses in the genus Cupressus in having cones that mature in 6-8 months after pollination.
The circumscription of the genus has been revised in recent years on the basis of genetic data combined with a better understanding of morphological variation in allied genera. One species formerly treated in a different genus Fokienia has been merged into Chamaecyparis as Chamaecyparis hodginsii, while two species formerly sometimes included in Chamaecyparis have been transferred to Cupressus, as Cupressus funebris and Cupressus nootkatensis.
Species accepted here are:*Chamaecyparis formosensis (Formosan Cypress). Taiwan.*Chamaecyparis hodginsii (Fujian Cypress). Southeastern Asia.*Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (Lawson's Cypress). Western North America.*Chamaecyparis obtusa (Hinoki Cypress). Japan.*Chamaecyparis pisifera (Sawara Cypress). Japan.*Chamaecyparis taiwanensis (Taiwan Cypress). Taiwan.*Chamaecyparis thyoides (White Cypress). Eastern North America.
C. thyoides has two subspecies, subsp. thyoides on the Atlantic coast, and subsp. henryae on the Gulf coast. C. taiwanensis is sometimes treated as a variety of C. obtusa (as C. obtusa var. formosana).
Some of the species have sometimes been incorrectly called cedars.
Chamaecyparis, common names cypress or false cypress (to distinguish it from related cypresses), is a genus of conifers in the cypress family Cupressaceae, native to eastern Asia (Japan and Taiwan) and to the western and eastern margins of the United States.[1] The name is derived from the Greek khamai (χαμαί), meaning "on the earth", and kuparissos (κυπάρισσος) for "cypress".[2]
They are medium-sized to large evergreen trees growing from 20–70 m (66–230 ft) tall, with foliage in flat sprays. The leaves are of two types, needle-like juvenile leaves on young seedlings up to a year old, and scale-like adult leaves. The cones are globose to oval, with 8-14 scales arranged in opposite decussate pairs; each scale bears 2-4 small seeds.
Chamaecyparis taiwanensis is treated by many authors as a variety of C. obtusa (as C. obtusa var. formosana).
Genus Fokienia is not always recognized as a separate genus from Chamaecyparis, in which case Chamaecyparis hodginsii (=Fokienia hodginsii) should be added to the above list.[6] On the other hand, a species which used to be included in this genus, as Chamaecyparis nootkatensis, had been transferred on the basis of strong genetic and morphological evidence to the separate genus Xanthocyparis as Xanthocyparis nootkatensis in the early 2000s. After further phylogenetic work the species was moved to the monotypic genus Callitropsis nootkatensis, being sister to the genus Hesperocyparis, and both genera forming a clade with Xanthocyparis as its sister.[7]
There are also several species described from the fossil record including:[8]
Chamaecyparis species are used as food plants by the larva of some Lepidoptera species, including juniper pug and pine beauty.
Four species (C. lawsoniana, C. obtusa, C. pisifera, and C. thyoides) are of considerable importance as ornamental trees in horticulture; several hundred cultivars have been selected for various traits, including dwarf size, yellow, blue, silvery or variegated foliage, permanent retention of juvenile leaves, and thread-like shoots with reduced branching. In some areas, cultivation is limited by Phytophthora root rot diseases, with C. lawsoniana being particularly susceptible to P. lateralis.
The wood is scented, and is highly valued, particularly in Japan, where it is used for temple construction.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help) 
Chamaecyparis, common names cypress or false cypress (to distinguish it from related cypresses), is a genus of conifers in the cypress family Cupressaceae, native to eastern Asia (Japan and Taiwan) and to the western and eastern margins of the United States. The name is derived from the Greek khamai (χαμαί), meaning "on the earth", and kuparissos (κυπάρισσος) for "cypress".
They are medium-sized to large evergreen trees growing from 20–70 m (66–230 ft) tall, with foliage in flat sprays. The leaves are of two types, needle-like juvenile leaves on young seedlings up to a year old, and scale-like adult leaves. The cones are globose to oval, with 8-14 scales arranged in opposite decussate pairs; each scale bears 2-4 small seeds.
