Hesperocyparis macrocarpa Monterey cypress

The iconic Monterey cypress on Lathrop Drive overlooks central campus. Sairus Patel, 3 Jan 2019

Seed cones and scale-like leaves of Monterey cypress on Lathrop Drive. Sairus Patel, 3 Jan 2019

Away from its foggy coastal habitat this tree does not always do well; specimens can be seen here and there that have been killed by cypress canker, a fungus that is following Monterey cypress plantings around the world. The branchlets give a pleasant aroma when crushed.

Six impressive specimens are scattered behind Bolivar House near Lane B. A younger trio hides among the oaks just northwest of the north gate to the O’Donohue Farm, edging the parking lot.

At Jasper Ridge, near the southeastern tip of Searsville Lake, a tall cypress from an early planting has been identified as Monterey cypress, despite its bark being more finely furrowed than one might expect.

Monterey cypress branchlet, female cone, and seed. From Forest Trees of the Pacific Slope, USDA, 1907, George B. Sudworth

One of the venerable cypresses after which “Pine” Hill was named still stands at 858 Lathrop Drive. Once the most widely cultivated tree at Stanford, Monterey cypress was planted extensively by gardener Thomas Douglas. Two hundred or more were formerly maintained in and around the Quad; none remain. Records also attest to former plantings of H. goveniana, H. guadalupensis, and H. macnabiana (see Species Lost).

In 1975 Palo Alto reported 50 to 100 dead or dying. Monterey cypress should not be planted on campus. The San Francisco Presidio, now a 1480-acre national recreation area, has a 3800-tree forest, planted a century ago, that is flourishing under the foggy conditions that it likes. However, the forest is threatened by a proposal from the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to restore the sand dunes that once covered the Presidio (New York Times, March 9, 2003). These dunes also covered the site of Golden Gate Park (see Acacia longifolia).

Illustrations: Monterey cypress at Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve.

Name derivation: Hesperocyparis – Latin, Western cypress; macrocarpa – large fruit.