| CUPRESSUS BAKERI a.k.a. Baker Cypress, Modoc Cypress, Siskiyou Cypress. |
Bear shit.
Lava Flow. The whole area is a relatively recent (last few thousand
years) lava flow. In areas the lava cooled and condensed into rubble,
in other areas it maintained this somewhat fluid shape which clearly
resembles its former liquid state.
years) lava flow. In areas the lava cooled and condensed into rubble,
in other areas it maintained this somewhat fluid shape which clearly
resembles its former liquid state.
Within the genus Cupressus there is a wide range of very beautiful, aromatic, and long-lived species of trees. Avoiding
recent controversy concerning the taxonomic nomenclature and the difference between “new world” Cupressus
species (i.e. North American species, nearly all of them occurring endemically in California save for two) and “old
world” Cupressus species occurring on the other side of the Atlantic (i.e. the “true cypresses” such as the fastigiate
Cupressus sempervirens and the rare Cupressus duclouxiana), it is worth devoting some time to a particular species
within the first grouping – the most northerly-occurring North American cypress species. The species in question is
the rare and mysterious Cupressus bakeri, a.k.a. “the modoc cypress”. The common name for this species arises from
the name of the Indigenous tribe that once inhabited the lava beds where the largest population of this species is
thriving on.
It may seem odd to refer to a tree as “mysterious”, but the adjective applies in this case due to the fact that this
Cupressus species only inhabits less than a dozen sites mostly in North-Eastern California and less so in Southern
Oregon. The scattered-ness of these sites and the distance between them is indicative of a previously much more
widespread natural range that has since been broken up into scattered “islands”. It seems that the centuries and
millenia have since reduced the range and dominance of Cupressus bakeri.
Cupressus bakeri grows at a wide range of elevations, from a mere 1200 feet all the way up to 6200 feet. It is by far
the most cold-hardy cypress species with the possible exception of the only-recently-included-in-the-genus Cupressus
nootkatensis (formerly Chamaecyparis nootkatensis – cone structure and maturation time, as well as this specie's
ability to hybridize with other species of Cupressus, something that shouldn't be possible if it were in a different
genus, are the reason for the recent taxonomic change).
Indeed, there is a thirty-five foot tall, nearly thirty year old specimen of Cupressus Bakeri growing at the Denver
Botanic Gardens (USDA Zone 5), planted from seed sewn in 1981. Denver's lack of summertime humidity most likely
is part of the reason for the health of this specimen. There is also a much younger, and much less vigorous-looking
(probably because it is in a shady location and is not receiving much sun) specimen that has survived for thirteen
years at Chicago's Morton Arboretum. This specimen is probably only seven feet tall.
Having visited two of the ten or so locations where this species is known to exist in the wild, I can say with much
confidence that it has quickly become one of my most-loved species of conifers in existence, and is deserving of much
more attention than it currently has. Reasons for it's notoriety and uniqueness include both the terrain it grows in
and it's beauty and stature. I feel obliged to point out that one of the most distinctive characteristics about this
species, aside from it's blue-tinged foliage and smooth, mahogany bark, is the odor of the foliage and cones. One of
the ways to tell apart many of the California cypress species is their odor, and the odor of Baker Cypress is certainly
distinct. The only comparison that can begin to do it's odor justice is the smell of the desert after a rain - alive,
nutrient-rich and fresh.
The largest single population of this species occurs on a relatively recent (last few thousand years) lava flow in Shasta
County, in Northeastern California. The terrain here at Timbered Crater Wildlife Area is mind-boggling – acres of
rough volcanic boulders that resemble “rubble-piles” of condensed and cooled lava. Temperatures fluctuate in both
extremes – exceedingly hot and dry in the summertime, and cold and wet in the winter. Annual precipitation is
estimated at or near thirteen inches. Oak and cypress and the occasional Juniperus occidentalis are the dominant
species on this no-man's land, and they seem to be thriving where many other species wouldn't stand a chance. In
areas where the “rubble pile” is absent, the ground almost looks as though it has been paved – the lava flow is flat and
even, and this is primarily where the cypress are able to take root. A history of frequent fire is evident from the
brittle remains of burned stumps and the plethora or seedlings (Cupressus bakeri needs fire to open it's cones and
regenerate) of all the same age.
Cupressus bakeri stands at other locations have trees that reach heights of 90 feet, but not here. Due to the low
amount of annual precipitation and the challenges of growing on piles of cracked lava, few trees here reach heights
taller than ten to fifteen feet at the most. The bark is smooth and maroon-colored, almost resembling a somewhat
rougher madrone. Little yellow specks poke out on the foliage like golden dots of ornament – these are the male
pollen cones. The female cones are grey and less than an inch in diameter, resembling little armored helmets, each
containing roughly thirty tiny seeds.
recent controversy concerning the taxonomic nomenclature and the difference between “new world” Cupressus
species (i.e. North American species, nearly all of them occurring endemically in California save for two) and “old
world” Cupressus species occurring on the other side of the Atlantic (i.e. the “true cypresses” such as the fastigiate
Cupressus sempervirens and the rare Cupressus duclouxiana), it is worth devoting some time to a particular species
within the first grouping – the most northerly-occurring North American cypress species. The species in question is
the rare and mysterious Cupressus bakeri, a.k.a. “the modoc cypress”. The common name for this species arises from
the name of the Indigenous tribe that once inhabited the lava beds where the largest population of this species is
thriving on.
It may seem odd to refer to a tree as “mysterious”, but the adjective applies in this case due to the fact that this
Cupressus species only inhabits less than a dozen sites mostly in North-Eastern California and less so in Southern
Oregon. The scattered-ness of these sites and the distance between them is indicative of a previously much more
widespread natural range that has since been broken up into scattered “islands”. It seems that the centuries and
millenia have since reduced the range and dominance of Cupressus bakeri.
Cupressus bakeri grows at a wide range of elevations, from a mere 1200 feet all the way up to 6200 feet. It is by far
the most cold-hardy cypress species with the possible exception of the only-recently-included-in-the-genus Cupressus
nootkatensis (formerly Chamaecyparis nootkatensis – cone structure and maturation time, as well as this specie's
ability to hybridize with other species of Cupressus, something that shouldn't be possible if it were in a different
genus, are the reason for the recent taxonomic change).
Indeed, there is a thirty-five foot tall, nearly thirty year old specimen of Cupressus Bakeri growing at the Denver
Botanic Gardens (USDA Zone 5), planted from seed sewn in 1981. Denver's lack of summertime humidity most likely
is part of the reason for the health of this specimen. There is also a much younger, and much less vigorous-looking
(probably because it is in a shady location and is not receiving much sun) specimen that has survived for thirteen
years at Chicago's Morton Arboretum. This specimen is probably only seven feet tall.
Having visited two of the ten or so locations where this species is known to exist in the wild, I can say with much
confidence that it has quickly become one of my most-loved species of conifers in existence, and is deserving of much
more attention than it currently has. Reasons for it's notoriety and uniqueness include both the terrain it grows in
and it's beauty and stature. I feel obliged to point out that one of the most distinctive characteristics about this
species, aside from it's blue-tinged foliage and smooth, mahogany bark, is the odor of the foliage and cones. One of
the ways to tell apart many of the California cypress species is their odor, and the odor of Baker Cypress is certainly
distinct. The only comparison that can begin to do it's odor justice is the smell of the desert after a rain - alive,
nutrient-rich and fresh.
The largest single population of this species occurs on a relatively recent (last few thousand years) lava flow in Shasta
County, in Northeastern California. The terrain here at Timbered Crater Wildlife Area is mind-boggling – acres of
rough volcanic boulders that resemble “rubble-piles” of condensed and cooled lava. Temperatures fluctuate in both
extremes – exceedingly hot and dry in the summertime, and cold and wet in the winter. Annual precipitation is
estimated at or near thirteen inches. Oak and cypress and the occasional Juniperus occidentalis are the dominant
species on this no-man's land, and they seem to be thriving where many other species wouldn't stand a chance. In
areas where the “rubble pile” is absent, the ground almost looks as though it has been paved – the lava flow is flat and
even, and this is primarily where the cypress are able to take root. A history of frequent fire is evident from the
brittle remains of burned stumps and the plethora or seedlings (Cupressus bakeri needs fire to open it's cones and
regenerate) of all the same age.
Cupressus bakeri stands at other locations have trees that reach heights of 90 feet, but not here. Due to the low
amount of annual precipitation and the challenges of growing on piles of cracked lava, few trees here reach heights
taller than ten to fifteen feet at the most. The bark is smooth and maroon-colored, almost resembling a somewhat
rougher madrone. Little yellow specks poke out on the foliage like golden dots of ornament – these are the male
pollen cones. The female cones are grey and less than an inch in diameter, resembling little armored helmets, each
containing roughly thirty tiny seeds.
| Without adequate light, seedligs grow tall and leggy. This location is in Siskiyoua county, on Goosenest Mountain at elevation 5800 feet. This population is being shaded out by encrouching red and white fir. It is in a sad state. There is also a clear cut within a hundred yards of this stand. Lets hear it for Bush Administration Forest Policies. |
These remaining pictures were taken at the Goosenest Mountain population of Cupressus bakeri.
This stand is in somewhat sad shape. The trees here are much taller than the ones at Timbered
Crater, most likely because the soil is richer and there is much more annual precipitation, however
as you can see in the picture above, logging is going on very near this stand, and due to the
fire-suppression, red fir and white fir are encroaching upon Baker Cypress and shading it out. Baker
cypress is extremely shade-intolerant. The forest service supposedly has a maintenance plan
regarding Cupressus bakeri at this site, but so far nothing seems to be being implemented.
This stand is in somewhat sad shape. The trees here are much taller than the ones at Timbered
Crater, most likely because the soil is richer and there is much more annual precipitation, however
as you can see in the picture above, logging is going on very near this stand, and due to the
fire-suppression, red fir and white fir are encroaching upon Baker Cypress and shading it out. Baker
cypress is extremely shade-intolerant. The forest service supposedly has a maintenance plan
regarding Cupressus bakeri at this site, but so far nothing seems to be being implemented.