Identification: Need to id a cypress type tree

Discussion in 'Gymnosperms (incl. Conifers)' started by javierj, Mar 16, 2014.

  1. javierj

    javierj New Member

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    Hello,

    I have a cypress type tree growing in my front yard. I really want to know what species it is, like the common and scientific name. I took some pictures. Thanks
     

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    Last edited: Mar 17, 2014
  2. saltcedar

    saltcedar Rising Contributor 10 Years

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  3. javierj

    javierj New Member

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    Hello Saltcedar ! Thank you for the suggestion.

    I have been looking at the genus of Juniperus, because it's the one that it looks closest to this tree that I have. Now I've read that there are like 57 Farjon (2001) and 67 Adams (2004) species of Juniperus, I think I will be kind of hard for me to fully id it. The correct id falls in the genus of Juniperus, but I wish I could know which kind of Juniperus this one is...
     
  4. saltcedar

    saltcedar Rising Contributor 10 Years

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    You might look at it from a different perspective. Which species are native and which are commonly grown as imports for lumber, pulp or oil.
     
  5. javierj

    javierj New Member

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    Ok...

    I live in San José, Costa Rica, Central America. The elevation over sea level here is 850 meters / 2,720 feet. This tree is not native of this location, it has been brought from temperate northern or southern locations, or at least that's what I think it is. It was giving to my mom by a local gardener who does some gardening in our house sometimes. I don't know where he got it from, most likely he started it as a seed that he got somewhere locally.
     
  6. saltcedar

    saltcedar Rising Contributor 10 Years

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    Good info' unfortunately I'm not savvy about the flora of Central America. You'll need to do the research with local botanists or foresters to come up with likely candidates. Unless our forum tree wizards can narrow it further.
     
  7. Daniel Mosquin

    Daniel Mosquin Paragon of Plants UBC Botanical Garden Forums Administrator Forums Moderator 10 Years

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  8. Michael F

    Michael F Paragon of Plants Forums Moderator 10 Years

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    Is the foliage soft to handle, or a bit prickly?

    If the former, it could be one of the juvenile foliage cultivars of Sawara Cypress Chamaecyparis pisifera; if the latter, then most likely one of the juvenile foliage cultivars of Chinese Juniper Juniperus chinensis. Both are common items in horticultural trade.
     
  9. javierj

    javierj New Member

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    Thanks a lot to everyone for the replies ! So this cypress type of tree is not from around here, the Cypress that you see the most in Costa Rican higher elevations is the Cupressus lusitanica. The one I have, I have never ever seen it in Costa Rica
     
  10. javierj

    javierj New Member

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    ****By the way, I changed the photos that I had taken with my cell phone and replaced them with regular point and shoot camera, much better resolution than the cell phone***
     
  11. javierj

    javierj New Member

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    Hi Michael. The foliage is quite prickly...
     

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