Monterey Cypress – eIrishTrees

Monterey Cypress June - 6564 — Monterey Cypress June – 6564

Monterey Cypress, Cupressus macrocarpa. This tree is a species of cypress that is endemic to the central coast of California. The native range of the species was confined to two small relict populations, at Cypress Point in Pebble Beach and at Point Lobos near Carmel, California. These two stands represent what was once a very large forest on the west coast. The living trees of these stands are as old as 2000 years.The Cupressus macrocarpa is a medium-sized coniferous evergreen tree, which often becomes irregular and flat-topped as a result of the strong winds that are typical of its native area. It grows to heights of up to 40m in perfect growing conditions, and its trunk diameter can reach 2.5m. The foliage grows in dense sprays, bright green in color. The leaves are scale-like, 2–5 mm long, and produced on rounded (not flattened) shoots; seedlings up to a year old have needle-like leaves 4–8 mm long.Source: Wikipedia. Branches are prone to falling off in high winds. The University of Limerick is home to one of the most remarkable Monterey Cypress trees in Ireland.