Callitropsis nootkatensis

Callitropsis nootkatensis is an evergreen conifer growing up to tall, exceptionally , with diameters up to . The bark is thin, smooth and purplish when young, turning flaky and gray. some specimens may be over 3,000 years old. Callitropsis nootkatensis is one of the parents of the hybrid Leyland cypress; the other parent, Monterey cypress (Hesperocyparis macrocarpa), was also considered to be in the genus Cupressus, but in the North American Hesperocyparis clade, which has generally been found to be phylogenetically closer to C. nootkatensis than the Old World clade Cupressus sensu stricto. == Taxonomy ==

First described in the genus Cupressus as Cupressus nootkatensis in 1824 based on a specimen collected "ad Sinum Nootka dictum", which translates to "said Bay of Nootka". It was transferred to Chamaecyparis in 1841 on the basis of its foliage being in flattened sprays, as in other Chamaecyparis, but unlike most (though not all) other Cupressus species. However, this placement does not fit with the morphology and phenology of the cones, which are far more like Cupressus, maturing in two years rather than one. Genetic evidence, published by Gadek et al., strongly supported its return to Cupressus and exclusion from Chamaecyparis. Farjon et al. (2002) transferred it to a new genus Xanthocyparis, together with the newly discovered Vietnamese golden cypress (Xanthocyparis vietnamensis); this species is remarkably similar to Nootka cypress and the treatment has many arguments in its favour, as while they are not related to Chamaecyparis, neither do they fit fully in Cupressus despite the many similarities. Little et al. confirmed this relationship with further evidence and pointed out that an earlier nomenclatural combination in the genus Callitropsis existed, as Callitropsis nootkatensis (D.Don) Oerst., published in 1864 but overlooked or ignored by other subsequent authors. Little et al. In 2010, Mao et al. performed a more detailed molecular analysis and placed Nootka cypress back in Cupressus. This was disputed, as the tree would compose a monophyletic subgenus, but the Gymnosperm Database suggested that it could comprise a monotypic genus as Callitropsis nootkatensis. In 2021, a molecular study by Stull et al. found the species to indeed belong to the distinct genus Callitropsis and recovered this as the sister genus to Hesperocyparis. The clade comprising both was found to be sister to Xanthocyparis (containing only the Vietnamese golden cypress), and the clade containing the three genera was found to be sister to a clade containing Juniperus and Cupressus sensu stricto. ==Distribution and habitat==

The species grows in moist areas of coastal mountains of the Pacific Northwest, including those of the Cascades, from the Kenai Peninsula in Alaska to the Klamath Mountains in northernmost California. It can be found at elevations higher than those reached by Thuja plicata (western redcedar), sometimes in a krummholz form, and even occupying very rocky sites (near the California-Oregon border). It can be found at elevations of in Southeast Alaska and between from coastal British Columbia into Oregon. Isolated groves near Nelson, British Columbia, and John Day, Oregon, may be the descendants of local populations dating to the Last Glacial Period. == Ecology ==

The tree benefits from annual precipitation exceeding , particularly in deep snow though with temperatures not often dropping below . Snow tends not to break the flexible branches. This mortality has been observed over 7% of the species range, covering approximately 10 degrees of latitude from northern southeast Alaska to southern British Columbia. Substantial future mortality is likely due to warming temperatures and decreasing snowpacks. The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service is reviewing whether to designate the species as threatened or endangered. ==Uses==

The Nootka cypress is used extensively by the indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest Coast, along with another cypress, Thuja plicata (western redcedar). While the wood and inner bark of western redcedar was preferred for larger projects like houses and canoes, the stronger inner bark of Nootka cypress was used for smaller vessels and utensils, including canoe paddles and baskets, as well as thread for clothing and blankets. The tree has extreme heartwood qualities that make it one of the most desired sources of firewood on the West Coast. It burns very hot and lasts a long time as embers. A tree can still be used for firewood up to 100 years after its death. Construction The various physical properties of the wood make it an attractive material for both general construction and boatbuilding. == In Indigenous culture ==

A legend amongst the Nootka peoples of the Hesquiaht First Nation tells of the origins of the Nootka cypress. In the legend, a raven encounters three young women drying salmon on the beach. He asks the women if they are afraid of being alone, or of bears, wolves, and other animals. Each woman responded "no". But when asked about owls, the women were indeed afraid of owls. Hearing this, the trickster raven hid in the forests, and made the calls of an owl. The terrified women ran up the mountains, but turned into Nootka cypress trees when they were out of breath. According to the Nootka, this is why Nootka cypress grows on the sides of mountains, and also why the bark is silky like a woman's hair, and the young trunk is smooth like a woman's body. In Tlingit culture the story of Natsilane describes how a Nootka cypress was used to carve the world's first killer whale. ==Gallery==

File:Cupressus nootkatensis 1334.JPG|Mature individual with foliage in flat sprays hanging from branches Image:Nootka Cypress cone.jpg|Cone detail Image:Callitropsis-nootkatensis01.jpg|Seeds Image:Cupressus nootkatensis bark.jpg|Bark File:Chamaecyparis nootkatensis‘Glauca’.jpg|C. nootkatensis 'Glauca' ==References==