Cypress

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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:

• Cupressaceae
• Cypress (Cupressus species)
• Cypress (Chamaecyparis species)
• Cypress (Callitropsis species)
• African Cypress (Widdringtonia species)
• Bald Cypress (Taxodium species)
• Chinese Swamp Cypress (Glyptostrobus pensilis)
• Cordilleran Cypress (Austrocedrus chilensis)
• Fujian Cypress (Fokienia hodginsii)
• Guaitecas Cypress (Pilgerodendron uviferum)
• Patagonian Cypress (Fitzroya cupressoides)
• Siberian Cypress (Microbiota decussata)
• Cypress-pines (Actinostrobus species)
• 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.

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Last updated on Thursday December 20, 2007 at 06:56:46 PST (GMT -0800)
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