Six species of the Cupressaceae, the variegated Leyland cypress (Cupressocyparis leylandii), davurian juniper (Juniperus javurica), savin (Juniperus 'expansa variegata), California incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens), American arbor vitae (Thuja occidentalis 'lutae zebrina) and the sawara false cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera 'nana aureovariegata') were examined for the behavior of albino-green shoots.The fate of the variegations in these six plants is the same in two important respects. First, the majority (89%) of sprays with the original sector become completely yellow. Second, sectorial branch sprays of the original sectorial sprays become either completely green or yellow in a 1:1 ratio. Based on the first finding, it is concluded that there is one rather than two to four apical initials in the shoot apex as generally postulated. The second finding demonstrates there is no selection for either type, a feature postulated by others. This single apical initial, or apical cell, is a member of a cell lineage that forms sectors while persisting throughout the life of the shoot.cell

Key words: apical cells, chimeras, conifers