The Cupressaceae are treated in the broader sense in this monograph, including Taxodiaceae, following phylogenetic and taxonomic studies. The genus Sciadopitys, formerly in Taxodiaceae, constitutes and independent lineage and is sister group to Cupressaceae sensu lato. With this curcumscription, the family has 30 genera and 133 species. It is the only gymnosperm family with a world-wide distribution. there is one large genus, Juniperus, with 52 species; Cupressus has 17 species and Calllitris 15. There are 18 monospecific genera, reflecting the relict nature of three lineages: extinction and radiation have occurred repeatedly in the group over the last 300 million years. All species are treated in full with information on nomenclature, types, description, distribution, ecology, conservation, cited specimens, taxonomic notes and distribution maps. Beautiful full-page line drawings, expertly executed by the author, are included for every species. Introductory chapters deal with history, morphology and anatomy, ontogeny of seed cones, phylogeny and evolution, distribution and ecology of the family.
