Leyland Cypress (Cupressus × leylandii, syn. × Cupressocyparis leylandii). Hybrid between Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) and Nootka Cypress (Cupressus nootkatensis, syn. Callitropsis nootkatensis, Chamaecyparis nootkatensis). The ease with which this hybrid occurs - 20 different clones of independent origin from seed are known - is a strong pointer towards a close relationship between the two parent species, despite their often being cited as being in different genera. Widely planted in small gardens completely inappropriate to its large size at maturity. This specimen is 36m tall, with a trunk over a metre in diameter. Let the buyer beware! These photos are released into the public domain.
not to derail your thread Micheal but is Xanthocyperus n. a viable syn for the Chamaecyparis n? I heard tell the name changed a couple years ago but havent seen anyone adopt it.
Hi Jimmyq, Xanthocyparis is a synonym of Callitropsis. It is possible that all of the New World Cupressus (plus Vietnamese Cypress) may prove more closely related to Juniperus than they do to Eurasian Cupressus; should that prove definitely to be the case (the jury is still out on this, though), then they have to be removed from Cupressus to a separate genus, this being Callitropsis. One botanist however failed to note the existence of the old name Callitropsis (largely forgotten in old literature) and instead described a new one Xanthocyparis instead.
