Monterey Cypress Cupressus macrocarpa
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Monterey Cypress occurs naturally in the two very limited populations in the Monterey Peninsula at the northern end of the Santa Lucia Mountains it is probably the second most planted and frequently seen trees along Highway 1 on the Big Sur Coast.
Monterey Cypress are a relatively fast growing tree that can reach heights up to 120 feet with diameters exceeding 6 feet. Because of its ability to grow fast and in dense clusters it has been imported and now grows around the world. 
An old Monterey Cypress on the cliffs just above the Pacific Ocean in its original native range. The trees behind are mostly Montery Cypress.
An old-growth Monterey Cypress forest on the cliffs just above the Pacific Ocean in its original range.
The more obvious female cones grow up to 1-1/2 inches in diameter. Their new brown female seed cones turn gray due to weathering. Needles are scale-like and grow close to the stems
A single cone can produce many seeds. Old cones will often remain on the branch.
Male pollen cones
Growing in it natual habitat Monterey Cypress can show a wide variety of forms; from twisted, bent, and low growing near the sea where wind and salt fog shape the tree to tall and stately further back from the ocean and in protection form wind and fog.