Xanthocyparis vietnamensis


Xanthocyparis vietnamensis, commonly known as the Vietnamese golden cypress, is a coniferous tree in the cypress family.

Distribution

Xanthocyparis vietnamensis is endemic to Vietnam, being native only to the karst limestone mountains of the Hà Giang Province in northern Vietnam.

Taxonomy

It was first discovered by western scientists only in October 1999 and was shortly thereafter described as a new genus and species, namely Xanthocyparis vietnamensis, closely related to Nootka cypress, which was also transferred to this new genus. Subsequently, Little et al. pointed out that an earlier genus name Callitropsis had been given to Nootka cypress, but this name was later abandoned in favour of Xanthocyparis.

Conservation

Xanthocyparis vietnamensis is designated as an Endangered species, as only 560 individuals are known to exist, on only 10 km2 of habitat.