Common Name:

General Information

Cupressus gigantea is an evergreen tree that can grow 30 - 40 metres tall with a trunk up to 350cm in diameter[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use of its wood.
Cupressus gigantea has a very restricted range in the Himalayas of Tibet and Yunnan, Due to the scarcity of timber in the region where scattered groves of the treea occur, there is continuous pressure for exploitation. Regeneration is often poor due to grazing of livestock. Several groves are protected as ‘sacred forest’ by Buddhist monks and some of the largest trees are on grounds used as a cemetery, where any cutting is prohibited. There has been a loss of up to 50% of mature individuals in the last three generations. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

E. Asia - Himalayas of southeast Tibet and northwest Yunnan

Habitat

Scattered stands or groves, with few other large shrubs, usually on east-facing slopes and surrounded by open dry scrubland; growing in sandy or stony fluvio-glacial sediments or on slopes over limestone; at elevations to 3,210 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Vulnerable
Height	0.00 m
Pollinators	Wind
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Cupressus gigantea is found at high elevations in the Himalayas in regions where the climate is seasonal (east monsoon, dry winds from the Tibetan Plateau in the west), with cold winters and with an annual precipitation of less than 500mm, most of which falls in the summer[].
Grows well in a hot, dry situation[]. Prefers a pH of 6 or lower[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The wood is durable. The tree is harvested for local use as a timber and a firewood[].

Propagation

Seed -