Thuja plicata

Donn ex D. Don in Lambert

in Lambert,Descr. Pinus 2: [19]. 1824.

Common names: Western redcedar
Endemic
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 2.

Trees to 50 (–75) m, sometimes stunted in harsh environments; trunk to 2 (–5) m diam., often buttressed at base; crown conical. Bark reddish-brown or grayish brown, 10–25 mm thick, fibrous, fissured. Branches arching, branchlets pendent. Leaves of branchlets (1–) 3–6 mm (sprays sometimes bearing only very small leaves), apex acute, with white markings on abaxial surface when fresh, glossy green on adaxial surface of branchlets. Pollen cones 1–3 mm, reddish. Seed-cones ellipsoid, 10–14 mm, brown; fertile scales 2–3 pairs, each with evident, nearly terminal, deltate projection. Seeds 8–14 per cone, 4–7.5 mm (including wings), reddish-brown. 2n = 22.


Habitat: On various substrates, commonly in moist sites, mixed coniferous forests, usually not in pure stands
Elevation: 0–1500(–2000) m

Distribution

V2 588-distribution-map.gif

Alta., B.C., Alaska, Calif., Idaho, Mont., Oreg., Wash.

Discussion

The range of Thuja plicata consists of a Coast Range–Cascade Range segment from southeastern Alaska to northwestern California (between 56° 30' and 40° 30' N latitude) and a Rocky Mountains segment from British Columbia to Idaho and Montana (between 54° 30' and 45° 50' N latitude).

Thuja plicata is an important timber tree. Its soft but extremely durable wood is valued for home construction, production of shakes and shingles, and many other uses. Native Americans of the Northwest Coast used it to build lodges, totem poles, and seagoing canoes. Many cultivars are grown for ornament, and the species is managed for timber in Europe and New Zealand.

Western redcedar (Thuja plicata) is the provincial tree of British Columbia.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

"with slightly enlarged apex" is not a number. "thin" is not a number. "thin" is not a number.

... more about "Thuja plicata"
enlarged +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
Kenton L. Chambers +
Donn ex D. Don in Lambert +
long-lived +
grayish brown +  and reddish-brown +
fissured +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (2.5 cm25 mm <br />0.025 m <br />) +
inconspicuous +  and undifferentiated +
Western redcedar +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (1.4 cm14 mm <br />0.014 m <br />) +
conical +
Alta. +, B.C. +, Alaska +, Calif. +, Idaho +, Mont. +, Oreg. +  and Wash. +
0–1500(–2000) m +
On various substrates, commonly in moist sites, mixed coniferous forests, usually not in pure stands +
scale-like +  and flattened +
decurrent +  and scale-like +
heteromorphic +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
persisting +
spreading +  and appressed +
3 (?) +  and 5 (?) +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (0.6 cm6 mm <br />0.006 m <br />) +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br />) +
spheric;oblong +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br />) +
in Lambert,Descr. Pinus +
fibrous;woody +
peltate +  and complex +
cuneate +  and oblong +
fleshy +  and woody +
overlapping +
persistent +
basifixed +
1 +  and 2 +
reddish-brown +
8 +  and 14 +
lenticular +
0.4 cm4 mm <br />0.004 m <br /> (0.75 cm7.5 mm <br />0.0075 m <br />) +
frondlike +, flattened +  and fan--shaped +
Thuja plicata +
species +
flattened +, angled +  and terete +
5,000 cm50,000 mm <br />50 m <br /> (7,500 cm75,000 mm <br />75 m <br />) +
small +  and large +
asymmetric +  and symmetric +