y 



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A NEW CALIFORNIA CYPRESS 

 Cupressus nevadensis sp. nov. 



By L. R. Abrams 



Small tree attaining a maximum height of 20-25 m. and a 

 diameter of 6-8 dm., with spreading branches forming a broadly 

 conical crown. Bark fibrous, longitudinally fissured, 15-25 cm, 

 thick, reddish brown within, weathering light gray-brown on 

 the exposed surface. Leaves light green and somewhat glaucous, 

 closely imbricated on the slender distinctly 4-angled branchlets, 

 1.5 mm. broad, sharply acute and keeled, with a conspicuous 

 active dorsal resin duct. Cones solitary or clustered, broadly 

 oblong to subglobose, 20-25 mm. long about 20 mm. broad, 

 light gray with a brown undertone ; scales 6-8, rugosely roughened 

 with the wrinkles converging at the umbo, the upper lateral 

 longer than broad and acute at the upper angle ; umbose on the 

 lateral scales near the apex, scarcely pointed, those of the upper 

 pair elevated and pointed; seeds numerous, 4-5 mm. long, light 

 brown tinged with purple and somewhat glaucous, rugosely 

 wrinkled and sparsely papillate; hilum oblong-oval. 



In its resinous character it suggests Cupressus Macnabiana 

 Murr., but the larger cones and glaucous seeds show a closer 

 relationship to Cupressus Sargenti Jepson of the California Coast 

 Ranges. 



This species, the first to be reported in the main Sierra Nevada, 

 was first discovered by Mrs. Leo Polkinghorn in 1907, who for- 

 warded specimens to the late Professor W. R. Dudley. In 1915, 

 recognizing the peculiarities of these specimens, the writer 

 visited the grove for further material and notes on the living 

 trees. It grows on Red Hill, Piute Mountains, near Bodfish, 

 Kern County, at an elevation of 5,000 to 6,000 feet. Associated 

 with the California juniper, blue Oak, digger pine, and such 

 desert plants as Pinus monophylla and Ephedra viridis. Type: 

 Abrams 5368, July 29, 1915. 

 Stanford University 



