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Cupressus gigantea | |
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Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Gymnospermae |
Division: | Pinophyta |
Class: | Pinopsida |
Order: | Cupressales |
Family: | Cupressaceae |
Genus: | Cupressus |
Species: | C. gigantea
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Binomial name | |
Cupressus gigantea | |
Synonyms | |
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Cupressus gigantea, the Tibetan cypress, is a species of conifer in the family Cupressaceae in Asia. C. gigantea was previously classified as a subspecies of Cupressus torulosa because of their similar morphological characteristics and close distribution, but have since been genetically distinguished as separate species.[2]
It is endemic to Southeast Tibet - China on the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau, particularly in the dry valleys of Nyang River and Yarlung Tsangpo River.[3] Cupressus gigantea is the biggest of all Cupressus species.
The biggest known specimen is the famous King Cypress, about 50 meters high, 5.8 meters in diameter, 0.165-acre (670 m2) of crown-projection-area; and calculated age of 2,600 years.