Bonnie Doon Cypress Stand
Map SatelliteThe type locality for the Santa Cruz cypress, Cupressus abramsiana, this is one of the few known stands of this rare and highly endemic tree. At this site they are in association with the knobcone pine, Pinus attenuata, on the sandstone outcrops and with the ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa, on the deeper soils. Ponderosa pine occurs sporadically in the South Coast Ranges, with its main populations in Monterey County; the few groves in Santa Cruz County occur on sandy soils.
The bear-grass, Xerophyllum tenax, is found in association with the cypress in the closed-cone pine forest here, as it is on Huckleberry Hill, some 64 kilometers (40 miles) to the south.
Two other rare plants are found in association with the cypress, Arctostaphylos silvicola and Erysimum teretifolium.
Geological features include mesas of the Miocene Vaqueros Sandstones resting on an ancient peneplain of Mesozoic granite. The vegetative differences correspond closely to differences in substrate.
Integrity: Housing developments have destroyed some of the trees, and continuing development will destroy the vegetation.
Use: Private
Ref: Wolf, Carl B. 1948. Taxonomic and Distributional Studies of the New World Cypresses. El Aliso Vol. 1, pp. 1-250.
Griffin, James R. 1964. Isolated Pinus ponderosa Forest on Sandy Soils near Santa Cruz, California. Ecology Vol. 45, pp. 410-412.
July 1975
Inventory of California Natural Areas
Revision © 2009 Steven Louis Hartman
