Port Orford Cedar 



105 



ish inner bark. The twigs are rather stout, nearly round, slightly flattened, hght 

 yellow or reddish, becoming red-brown after the leaves fall, and finally grayish. 

 The leaves are dull bluish green, ovate, 3 mm. long, long-pointed, without glands 

 or faintly glandular-pitted on the back, closely appressed, except on young or vig- 

 orous twigs, where they are larger, spreading, and more pointed; they dry after 

 about two years, but remain upon the branches for another year. The flowers, 

 which open in early spring, or at high altitudes in summer, are at the ends of 

 small twigs; the staminate are oblong, about 5 mm. long, composed of 8 to 10 sta- 

 mens, with hght yellow, broadly ovate connectives; the pistillate flowers are of a 

 light reddish color, 1.5 mm. long, composed of ovate sharp-pointed scales, the fer- 

 tile scales with 2 to 4 ovules. The cone, which ripens in early autumn is sub- 

 globose, about 12 mm. in diameter, dark red-brown, glaucous, and consists of 4 to 

 6 scales, each tipped with a stout conic projection and bearing 2 to 4 seeds; these 

 are ovate, 6 mm. long, sharp-pointed, somewhat flattened, of a reddish brown 

 color, the wings lighter colored, sometimes twice as wide as the body. 



The wood is hard, rather brittle, very close-grained, yellow, satiny, and aro- 

 matic; the specific gravity is about 0.48. It is very durable, easy to work, and is 

 used in boat-building, cabinet work, and has been exported to Asia for use 

 instead of satinwood. 



It is much cultivated in Europe and to some extent in the United States; 

 a number of horticultural varieties are now known. In cultivation it is fre- 

 quently known under the name Thujopsis borealis Carriere. Yellow cypress. 

 Yellow cedar, Nootka cypress, Nootka sound cypress, Alaska ground cypress, and 

 Alaska cypress are common names for this tree. 



3. PORT ORFORD CEDAR Chamsecyparis Lawsoniana (A. Murray) 



Parlatore 



Cupressus Lawsoniana A. Murray 



This, the tallest of the Ground cypresses, is an inhabitant of sandy ridges 

 on the coast, and of mountain sides from sea level to an altitude of 1500 meters 

 in southwestern Oregon and northern Cahfomia. Its maximum height is 60 me- 

 ters, with a trunk diameter of 3.6 m. above the abruptly enlarged base. It is also 

 called Oregon cedar. White cedar, Lawson's cypress, and Ginger pine. 



The trunk is much swollen at the base, but narrower immediately above it, 

 tall and straight. The branches are horizontal, or somewhat drooping, forming 

 a narrow, conic head. The bark of old trees is up to 2.5 dm. thick, one-third 

 less thick on smaller stems, furrowed into rounded ridges, the surface separating 

 into small, irregular scales of a reddish brown color; on very young trees and 

 branches it is thin and nearly smooth. The twigs are slender, flattened, and pale 

 green, becoming round and reddish or brown. The leaves are light green, ovate, 

 appressed, 1.5 mm. long, sharp-pointed, with a distinct gland on the back; on 

 young or vigorous twigs they are several times larger, often spreading at the apex 



