WHITE CEDAR 



WHITE CEDAR. 



Cuprcssus thyoides. Chaiiictcyparis sphcrroidea. 



Cupressiis is the classical name of the cypress tree. Cha77icccyparis 

 is of Greek derivation and means a low cypress. 



A conical evergreen tree with open, flat, fan-shaped spray, reaches 

 the maximum height of eighty feet. Prefers deep swamps and in 

 them forms impenetrable thickets. Ranges from Maine to Missis- 

 sippi along the coast ; endures salt water. Roots fibrous. 



Bark. — Light reddish brown, furrowed, ridges often twisted around 

 the tree, scaly. Branchlets compressed at first, later become terete ; 

 slender, light green at first, then light reddish brown, finally dark 

 brown. 



Wood. — Light brown with rose tinge, sapwood pale ; light, soft, 

 weak, close-grained, easily worked, very durable in contact with the 

 soil, fragrant. Used in boat building, cooperage, interior finish of 

 houses, fence posts and railway ties. Sp. gr., 0.3322 ; weight of cu. 

 ft., 20.70 lbs. 



Leaves. — Of ultimate branches opposite, imbricated in four rows, 

 scale-like, small, ovate, acute or acuminate, closely appressed or, 

 spreading at the apex, decurrent, often remote on vigorous shoots. 

 Four-ranked, those of the lateral rows keeled, those on vertical rows 

 slightly convex, each with a glandular disk on the back. The young 

 leaves are light bluish green, somewhat hoary below, when full grown 

 they become a dark blue green. During the winter in the north 

 when exposed to the sun they become a rusty brown. 



Flowers. — April. Monoecious, minute. Staminate flowers are 

 oblong, four-sided, one-eighth of an inch long, consisting of several 

 shield-shaped scale-like filaments bearing two to four anthers. 

 Pistillate flowers globular, of about six shield-shaped scales, alternat- 

 ing in pairs and bearing generally two black ovules. 



Frtiit. — Woody, globular cone, ripens at end of first season ; 

 about one-fourth of an inch in diameter, sessile on a short leafy 

 branch. Light green and covered with glaucous bloom when full 

 grown, then bluish purple, very glaucous, finally dark red brown. 

 Scales are thick, shield-shaped, each with a central point or knob. 

 Seeds usually one or two under each fertile scale. 



It is unfortunate that Cupressus thyoides and Thuja oeeiden- 

 talis are both popularly known as White Cedar. Thuja is 

 also known as Arborvitse, but many who know it as Arbor- 

 vitse also know it as White Cedar. This results in endless 

 confusion in the popular mind concerning the two trees. 



