Monterey Cypresses (Cupressus macrocarpa) planted in Melbourne, Australia
The Lone Cypress on 17-Mile Drive, Monterey Peninsula, California.

Cypress is the name applied to many plants in the cypress family Cupressaceae, which is a conifer of northern temperate regions. Most cypress species are trees, while a few are shrubs.

Cupressus sempervirens is famous for its longevity, and has been a popular garden plant for thousands of years.

The word cypress is derived from Old French cipres, which was imported from Latin cypressus the latinisation of the Greek κυπάρισσος (kyparissos).[1][2]

The Cupressaceae family also contains 13–16 other genera (not listed above) that do not bear cypress in their common names.

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).

The plant called "summer cypress" is Bassia scoparia (Amaranthaceae).

Allergenic Potential

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Highly allergenic species of cypress with an OPALS allergy scale rating of 8 or higher include: Taxodium, Cupressus, Callitris, Chamaecyparis, Asutrocedrus males, and Widdringtonia males and monoecious. Species of cypress with very low potential for causing allergies (an OPALS allergy scale rating of 2 or lower) include: Austrocedrus females and Widdringtonia females.[3]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ κυπάρισσος, Henry George Liddell, Robert Scott, A Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus Digital Library
  2. ^ http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=cypress
  3. ^ Ogren, Thomas (2015). The Allergy-Fighting Garden. Berkeley, CA: Ten Speed Press. ISBN 9781607744917.