The discovery of Nootka cypress, <i>Cupressus nootkatensis</i>

Abstract The history of the iconic Nootka cypress is fraught with gaps in botanical information, uncertainty about collection locations, and confusion in nomenclature. The herbarium type specimen for the species collected by Archibald Menzies in 1787 may be lost and it is unclear which of the remaining specimens should replace it. At present, there is little agreement on either its scientific or common name. In addition, the paleoecology and post-glacial dispersal of Nootka cypress is not well understood. Consequently, it is not known how long Nootka cypress has been present on the landscapes of the north-western coast of North America as an important resource for Indigenous Peoples, including when humans originally migrated from Asia. These unresolved issues converge around the area of Nootka in what is now coastal British Columbia. This review investigates information from various historical, cultural, and botanical sources to clarify interactions of early European botanists who accompanied explorers and the Nuu-chah-nulth people of the west coast of Vancouver Island with this fascinating tree.