Cypress of Tassili

Classification

This species is regarded as a distinct species ( Cupressus dupreziana A. Camus) by certain botanists, like a variety ( Cupressus sempervirens L. VAr. dupreziana (A. Camus) Silba.) of the always green cypress ( Cupressus sempervirens ) by others.

Vernacular names: cypress of Tassili, cypress of the Sahara, cypress of Duprez, tarout (in tamahaq).

Distribution

This tree is endemic mountainous solid mass of the Tassili of Ajjers, in the center of the the Sahara and in the south-east of the Algerian territory . It forms a single and isolated settlement there, to hundreds of kilometers of any other tree (of the same kind). There was in 2001 only 233 specimens of this very threatened species, largest having more than 20 meters in height and 12 m of circumference. It is said that the majority of these trees are very old, one estimates that they have more than 2000 years, and there is very little regeneration because of increasing Désertification of the Sahara. Total pluviometry in this area is of envion 30 mm per annum. In 1998, agents of the National park of Tassili, one found in same Tassili, two young trees resulting from spontaneous germination.

Description

This species is distinguished from the species relationship Cupressus sempervirens (the common cypress) by the color of its foliage, more blue, with a white resin spot on each Feuille, and the shorter branches, often flattened in only one plan. It also carries smaller cones, from 1,5 to 2,5 cm length. The Cyprès of Morocco ( Cupressus atlantica ) is more resembling and certain authors regard it as a variety ( Cupressus dupreziana VAr. atlantica ) of the cypress of Tassili.

Probable result of its insulation and its weak manpower, the cypress of Tassili has evolved to a male system of single reproduction of apomixie in which the Graine develops entirely starting from the genetic contents of the Pollen. There is no genetic contribution on behalf of the “relative” female, which provides only the nutritive substances. (Pichot et al. . , 2000). The cypress of Morocco does not share this characteristic.

Use

The cypress of Tassili is sometimes cultivated in the Western and southernmost areas of the Europe, partly with an aim of conservation genetic ex situ , but also like decorative tree.

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