MASSACHUSETTS FOREST TREES 



RED CEDAR (Red Juniper) (Junvperus virginiana L.) 



THIS tree receives its popular name, Red Cedar, from 

 the red color of its heart- wood. Growing on dry 

 and gravelly soil and sometimes on rather moist ground, 

 it is common in the eastern sections of the State and 

 of occasional occurrence in the central and western 

 parts. 



In habit it is variable. In youth its outline is nor- 

 mally conical, and in old age it is broad and round. 

 The trunk is continuous and attains a height of 

 twenty-five to thirty feet and a diameter of eight to 

 fifteen inches. 



RED CEDAR 



Two-thirds natural size. 



The bark on the trunk is light brown tinged with 

 red. When the tree has acquired age it separates into 

 long, narrow, ribbon-like flakes. 



The typical leaves are scale-like, about a sixteenth 

 of an inch in length and dark blue-green in color. On 

 young trees and sometimes on the mature plants, there 

 are needle-shaped leaves about one-half inch in length. 



The fruit is berry-like, globular, about the size of 

 a pea and dark blue. 



The wood is light, close-grained, not strong, easily 

 worked and durable. It is red in color and pleasantly 

 aromatic. It is used for posts, for pails and in cabinet- 

 making. 



16 



