Moroccan Cypress
Cupressus dupreziana A.Camus
Cupressus dupreziana, known as the Saharan cypress or tarout, is a rare coniferous tree found in the Tassili n'Ajjer mountains of central Sahara, southeast Algeria. It is an isolated population, hundreds of kilometers from other trees, with only 233 known specimens. The largest tree, Tin-Balalan, has a circumference of 12 meters and is believed to be the oldest. The species is endangered due to desertification and low rainfall, estimated at 30 mm annually.
Description
Cupressus dupreziana is part of the Cupressaceae family and is native to the central Sahara desert in Algeria. This species is critically endangered, with most of its 233 known individuals over 2000 years old. The trees grow in an isolated region with very little natural regeneration due to environmental changes. The largest tree, Tin-Balalan, reaches a height of 22 meters and is considered the oldest specimen. The species is adapted to extreme arid conditions, surviving in an area with annual rainfall of approximately 30 mm.
Other common names
Moroccan CypressSaharan Cypress
Distribution
Global · Algeria
Synonyms
Tassilicyparis duprezianaCupressus lereddeiCupressus sempervirens var. duprezianaCupressus dupreziana subsp. lereddeiCupressus dupreziana var. dupreziana
