Handbook of Trees of the Northekn States and Canada 



41 



The Arbor-Vitae is a tree commonly from 

 50-60 ft. in height and 2-3 ft. in diameter of 

 trunk, or sometimes larger, and develops a 

 wide-based pyramidal head when growing 

 apart from other trees. It sometimes forms 

 exclusive and dense forests in swampy locali- 

 ties and along the banks of streams, but is 

 oftener in company with the Black Ash, Swamp 

 Spruce, Canoe Birch, Ked and Silver Maples, 

 Tamarack, Balsam Fir, etc. It is abundant 

 and of quite general distribution in sufficiently 

 moist localities througliout the northern part 

 of its range, but in the southern Alleghenies 

 occurs only at high altitudes. 



The fragrant light wood of the Arbor-Vitte, 

 of which a cubic foot when absolutely dry 

 weighs 19.72 lbs., is highly valued in the con- 

 struction of light boats, canoes, etc., and is 

 one of the best woods within its realm for 

 shingles, and from the slim forest-grown trunks 

 of this tree more than any other come the fence 

 posts and telegraph poles of the northeastern 

 states and Canada. It is often planted for 

 ornamental purposes and several nursery 

 forms are found. Medicinal properties ar3 

 ascribed to its leaves. i 



Leaves of the ultimate branchlets scale-like, an- 

 pressed, about Vs in. long apiculate and glandula:-. 

 the 2 lateral rows strongly keeled and the other 

 two rows tlat. forming a very flat branchlet. 

 Flowers in April and May. inconspicuous ; stanii- 

 nate yellow ; pistillate purplish green. Cones ma- 

 ture in early autumn. hi-V^ in. long; seeds about 

 Vs in. long with wings about as broad as the body.- 



!.♦ A. W., I, 24. 



2. For genus see p. 421. 



