The number of cypress tree types depends on whether one uses scientific classification or common names. A cypress is generally understood to be a cone-bearing, evergreen tree belonging to the large conifer family known as Cupressaceae. This family encompasses a wide array of trees and shrubs distributed across the globe. The confusion arises because the word “cypress” is applied to trees belonging to multiple distinct groups within this single plant family.
The True Cypress Genus
The scientific classification focuses exclusively on the genus Cupressus, which contains the “True Cypresses.” This genus is a specific group within the broader Cupressaceae family, which contains about 27 to 30 genera. The number of species recognized under Cupressus varies among botanists, typically ranging between 16 and 25 species.
This variation is due to ongoing taxonomic debate and recent genetic studies. For example, many New World cypresses, such as the Monterey Cypress, have been reclassified into the separate but closely related genus, Hesperocyparis. The remaining Cupressus species are primarily found in the Old World. A prominent example is the Italian Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), known for its tall, slender, columnar shape.
The Role of Common Names in Classification
The primary source of confusion stems from using “cypress” in common names for trees outside the Cupressus genus. Many other genera within the Cupressaceae family have adopted the name, even though they are scientifically distinct groups. These trees are close relatives but are not true cypresses.
A major group contributing to this is the False Cypresses, which belong to the genus Chamaecyparis. Examples include the Lawson’s Cypress and the Hinoki Cypress, both popular in landscaping. Another distinct category is the Bald Cypresses, belonging to the genus Taxodium, such as Taxodium distichum of the southeastern United States.
The Leyland Cypress further illustrates this complexity, as it is a hybrid of a true cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa) and a false cypress (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis). Although these trees share the common ancestry of the Cupressaceae family, their separate genera indicate important biological differences. The common name “cypress” has become a broad, informal label for many cone-bearing evergreens with scale-like leaves.
How to Tell Different Cypress Types Apart
Distinguishing between these different cypress types involves examining key features of their foliage and cones. True cypresses (Cupressus) and false cypresses (Chamaecyparis) are both evergreen, but their leaves differ in arrangement. True cypresses generally have scale-like leaves pressed tightly against the branchlets, creating a rounded or four-sided spray. False cypresses typically have scale-like leaves arranged in distinctly flattened sprays.
The Bald Cypress (Taxodium) stands out because it is a deciduous conifer, shedding its leaves and small branchlets every autumn. Its foliage is also distinctly different, featuring long, linear, or needle-like leaves arranged alternately along the branch. Cone structure provides another clear separation. True cypresses produce hard, woody, globe-shaped cones that often stay closed for several years, while the cones of the Bald Cypress are small, nearly spherical, and tend to shatter when they mature.