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Hesperocyparis sargentii

(Jeps.) Bartel

Sargent's Cypress

G4Apparently Secure Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
VulnerableIUCN
MediumThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.130652
Element CodePGCUP04070
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNVulnerable
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumConiferophyta
ClassPinopsida
OrderPinales
FamilyCupressaceae
GenusHesperocyparis
Synonyms
Callitropsis sargentii(Jeps.) D.P. LittleCupressus sargentiiJepson
Other Common Names
Sargent's cypress (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Biotics v1
Review Date2020-04-16
Change Date1999-10-13
Edition Date2020-04-16
Edition AuthorsTreher (2020)
Threat ImpactMedium
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences81 - 300
Rank Reasons
Cupressus sargentii occurs in the coastal ranges of California and one site in Oregon. The species is strongly associated with serpentine soils and is fire dependent for seed dispersal and fire adapted. It is hypothesized that more frequent and more severe fires are detrimental to the species but this should be studied more carefully.
Range Extent Comments
Cupressus sargentii was thought to be endemic to California, primarily in the coast ranges but there is a small populations reported near Selma, Oregon (Callahan 2013). In California, it occurs from northern Mendocino County south to Santa Barbara County (Esser 1994).
Threat Impact Comments
While this species is fire dependent and fire adapted, severe fire may kill the tree and too frequent fires may burn back trees before they have a chance to reproduce but this needs to be studied for better understanding (Esser 1994). Limited regeneration of seedlings has been observed in this species but the reason is not well understood. A study found that it is not due to the stand age or the age of cones affecting viability of the seed (Milich 2010).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

The species primarily occurs on serpentine soils and more mild, wet climates (Callahan 2013, Esser 1994) in mixed conifer woodlands, conifer woodlands, and serpentine chaparral (Esser 1994).

Ecology

This tree species is fire dependent and tolerant, but severe fire will cause mortalilty (Esser 1994)

Reproduction

The cones require fire to open or dessication due to age (Esser 1994).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/Woodland
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaSNRYes
OregonSNRYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
7 - Natural system modificationsLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
7.1 - Fire & fire suppressionLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL, Long-lived, EVERGREEN
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (1)
California (1)
AreaForestAcres
Elk CreekMendocino National Forest23,182
References (6)
  1. Adams, R.P., J.A. Bartel, and R.A. Price. 2009. A new genus, <i>Hesperocyparis</i>, for the Cypresses of the Western Hemisphere (Cupressaceae). Phytologia 91(1):160-185.
  2. Callahan, F. 2013. Cypress Species in Oregon. Kalmiopsis 20:16-25.
  3. Esser, L. L. 1994. <i>Hesperocyparis sargentii</i>. In: Fire Effects Information System. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Online. Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/hessar/all.html (accessed 16 April 2020).
  4. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  5. Little, E.L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees (native and naturalized). Agriculture Handbook No. 541. U.S. Forest Service, Washington, D.C. 375 pp.
  6. Milich, K.L. 2010. Cone serotiny and seed viability of fire-prone California Cupressus species. M.S. thesis. Humboldt State University, Arcata, California.