A cypress tree under the sunset

Cypress in the Okefenokee swamp

Cypress is a name used for many trees and shrubs in the conifer family Cupressaceae (cypress family).

The name comes from the genus Cupressus which survives today as a conifer tree. About 30 cypress species survive.

Many cypress trees have needle-like, evergreen foliage and acorn-like seed cones.

Their earlier relatives were very common in the forests of the Jurassic period.