
The Lone Cypress on
17-Mile Drive. This is one of the most famous cypress trees in existence.
'Cypress' is the name applied to many
plants in the
conifer family
Cupressaceae (cypress family). Most plants which bear the common name ''cypress'' are in the genera ''
Cupressus'' and ''
Chamaecyparis'', but several other genera in the family also carry the name, including:
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Cupressaceae
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Cypress (''Cupressus'' species)
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Cypress (''Chamaecyparis'' species)
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Cypress (''Callitropsis'' species)
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African Cypress (''Widdringtonia'' species)
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Bald Cypress (''Taxodium'' species)
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Chinese Swamp Cypress (''Glyptostrobus pensilis'')
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Cordilleran Cypress (''Austrocedrus chilensis'')
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Fujian Cypress (''Fokienia hodginsii'')
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Guaitecas Cypress (''Pilgerodendron uviferum'')
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Patagonian Cypress (''Fitzroya cupressoides'')
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Siberian Cypress (''Microbiota decussata'')
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Cypress-pines (''Actinostrobus'' species)
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Cypress-pines (''Callitris'' species)
The word ''Cypress'' is also used as a descriptor for the
angiosperm vine in the
bindweed family
Convolvulaceae, known as the
Cypress vine (''Ipomoea quamoclit'').
Iran's Ancient Cypresses
Cypress was the first choice for Iranian Gardens (PARDIS). In all of the famous
Persian Gardens, such as
Fin Garden, Mahaan, Dowlat-Abad, and others, this tree plays a central role in their design. The
most ancient living Cypress is located in
Abarkooh, near
Shiraz. Its age is estimated to be approximately 4000 years.
Mythology
In
Greek mythology, the cypress is associated with the god of the underworld,
Hades.