The Cupressaceae (cedar family) is a family of conifers widely distributed in both the Northern and Southern Hemisphere with cedar, cypress, and redwood trees the most familiar. There are six species in the Cupressaceae that are native to Oklahoma. This includes five species of Juniperus (cedars or junipers) and Taxodium disticum (bald cypress). The Juniperus species include J. ashei (mountain cedar or Ashe juniper), J. monosperma (one-seed juniper), J. pinchotii (Pinchot juniper or redberry juniper), J. scopulorum (Rocky Mountain juniper), and J. virginiana (eastern red cedar). In addition, some other members of the family are planted as ornamental.
Two of the Juniperus species (J. monosperma and J.scopulorum) occur in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in the Oklahoma panhandle, while the other Juniperus species have a wider distribution. The natural range of Taxodium disticum is in southeast corner of Oklahoma; however, it has been widely planted as an ornamental in many areas of the state.
Pollen from members of the Cupressaceae is well known to be allergenic, and airborne Cupressaceae pollen is one of the most abundant pollen types detected in the Tulsa atmosphere. In fact, it is one of the top three most abundant pollen types on a yearly basis. Cupressaceae pollen is registered in Tulsa air samplers for nine months of the year. Because the pollen from members of the Cupressaceae is morphologically similar, it is identified at the family level as Cupressaceae pollen. However, some separation of species is possible based on time of pollination.
Eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) releases pollen beginning in early February. Pollen release in red berry juniper (J. pinchotii) starts in mid September, and pollen release in mountain cedar (J. ashei) is in December and January. Click on the linkgs for information on these three important pollen producing trees.