PINACEAE 
Arborvitae. White Cedar. 
Thuja occidentalis L. 
HABIT.—A tree 40-50 feet high, with a short, often but- 
tressed trunk 1-2 feet in diameter, often divided into 2-3 second- 
ary stems; forming a rather dense, wide-based, pyramidal crown. 
LEAVES.—Opposite, 4-ranked, scale-like, appressed; ovate, 
obtuse or pointed, keeled in the side pairs, flat in the others; 
\%-\% inch long; yellow-green, often becoming brown in winter; 
strongly aromatic when crushed. Persistent 1-2 years. 
FLOWERS.—ApriliMay; usually monoecious; the staminate 
minute, globose, yellow, composed of 4-6 stamens arranged op- 
positely on a short axis; the pistillate small, oblong, reddish, 
composed of 8-12 scales arranged oppositely on a short axis. 
FRUIT.—Early autumn of first season, but persistent on the 
branch through the winter; erect, short-stalked, oblong-ovoid, 
pale brown cones, about %4 inch long, composed of 8-12 loosé 
scales; seeds % inch long, ovate, acute, winged. 
WINTER-BUDS.—Naked, minute. 
BARK.—Twigs yellow-green, becoming light red, finally 
smooth, lustrous, dark orange-brown; thin, light red-brown on the 
trunk, slightly furrowed or deciduous in ragged strips. 
WOOD.—Light, soft, brittle, rather coarse-grained, durable, 
fragrant, pale yellow-brown, with thin, whitish sapwood. 
‘DISTRIBUTION.—Throughout the Upper Peninsula, Lower 
Peninsula as far south as Montcalm County. 
HABITAT.—Prefers moist soil in low swamps and along 
river-banks. 
NOTES.—Slow of growth. Tolerant of all soils and ex- 
posures. ‘Especially useful for hedges or narrow evergreen 
screens. 
