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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Boring Carving Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Cutting Resistance Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Mortising Moulding Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Planing Polishing References Regions of Distribution Resin Content Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Routing & Recessing Sanding Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Steam Bending Strength Properties Texture Trade Name Tree Size Turning Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Cupressus sempervirens Trade Name Cypress Family Name Cupressaceae Common Names Cypress, East African cypress Regions of Distribution Mediterranean Sea Region, Oceania and S.E. Asia Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Greece, Iran, Lebanon, Libya, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey Common Uses Exterior uses, Shipbuilding, Structural work, Trunks, Utility furniture, Wardrobes Environmental Profile Status has not been officially assessed Distribution Overview Due to the long horticultural history of this species in the Mediterranean region, its original native distribution is unclear; perhaps the question is pointless, as widespread human alteration of natural environments in the region has occurred across a time span featuring substantial climate changes. Various authorities attribute its native distribution to Greece (some Aegaean islands), Turkey, Crete, N Iran, Lebanon, and Syria; and perhaps Cyprus (which would only be appropriate). In N Africa, it may be native to Tunisia and N Libya. Currently, it can be found growing in cultivation or locally naturalized throughout the entire Mediterranean region. Moreover, the existence of C. atlantica (regarded by many as a subspecies of C. sempervirens) in Morocco and C. dupreziana in Algeria suggests that Heartwood Color Brown Red Yellow Pink Orange Purple Green/grey Orange to pinkish-brown Wood surface is usually scattered with knots Sapwood Color White Yellow Brown Red Grain Even Straight Figure Mottle Mottled or streaked figure sometimes Generally straight, but not always Brown streaks or flecks caused by resin cells are a rather common feature. Texture Fine Even or uniform Uniform Fine Even textured Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Resistant to powder post beetles Durable Perishable Non-resistant to marine borers Non-resistant to termites Cypress has high natural resistance against attack by decay-causing fungi and wood destroying insects Odor There is a distinct cedar-like scent which tends to fade with time Resin Content Contains resin The wood is sometimes classified as non-resinous Drying Defects Checking Collapse Internal Honeycombing Possible Ease of Drying Fairly Easy Requires special attention Medium to High Shrinkage Moderately Difficult to Difficult Veneer dries relatively rapidly, with little degrade except slight tendency to split Easy Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Tree height is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Comments Generally strong and tough for its weight. Blunting Effect Little Blunting effect on machining is slight Boring Fair to good results Fairly easy to very easy Break-Away at tool exits is common in knotty material Carving Fairly Easy to Very Easy Cutting Resistance Easy to saw Moderate to saw Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult to saw Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very good properties Mortising Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Straight-Grained wood is easy Material with knots tends to tear and break away Moulding Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Movement in Service Excellent Stability - Small Movement Fair to Good Stability - Medium Movement Stability is good Expect small movememt Nailing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Pre-Boring Recommended Poor to Very Poor Results Easy to nail Planing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Easy to use machine tools Material containing knots is difficult to work to a smooth finish because of torn grain. A reduced cutting angle has been recommended in planing knotty material Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Resistant sapwood Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Wood usually has interlocked grain, making it more difficult to work with hand tools Easy to machine Routing & Recessing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Sanding Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Screwing Pre-boring recommended Good screw holding properties Turning Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Veneering Qualities Veneers easily Suitable for slicing Suitable for peeling Veneers moderately easy No drying degrade Steam Bending Poor Polishing Fair to Good Results Fairly Easy to Very Easy Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Staining Finish is generally satisfactory Strength Properties The weight is moderate. The species has average, or medium, density Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Density 27 lbs/ft3 Specific Gravity 42.2 Weight 26 21. lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Density 432 kg/m3 Specific Gravity 42.2 References Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc. Fresno, California.