Cupressus Goveniana - Taxonomy

Taxonomy

There are two or three varieties, treated as distinct species by some botanists:

• Cupressus goveniana var. goveniana - Gowen Cypress (Vulnerable)

Monterey County, strictly coastal, within 3 km of the coast and below 200 m altitude. Foliage dark green, not rough, with leaf tips not spreading; cones globose.

• Cupressus goveniana var. pygmaea (C. pygmaea) - Mendocino Cypress (Vulnerable)

Mendocino and Sonoma Counties, coastal, within 10 km of the coast and below 500 m altitude. Doubtfully distinguishable from var. goveniana, with very similar foliage and cones. More modern taxonomic thinking classifies Mendocino Cypress as a separate species Cupressus pigmaea, and not a variety of C. goveniana.

• Cupressus goveniana var. abramsiana (Cupressus abramsiana) - Santa Cruz Cypress (Endangered)

Santa Cruz and San Mateo Counties, in the Santa Cruz Mountains 10-20 km inland and at 300-760 m altitude. More distinct, and could well be a valid species, with yellow-green foliage slightly rough-textured from the acute and slightly spreading leaf tips; cones often oval. It also shows similarities to Cupressus sargentii.