- Calocedrus
image_caption = "Calocedrus decurrens" (California Incense-cedar)
regnum =Plant ae
divisio =Pinophyta
classis = Pinopsida
ordo =Pinales
familia =Cupressaceae
genus = "Calocedrus"
genus_authority = Kurz
subdivision_ranks = Species
subdivision = "Calocedrus decurrens " "Calocedrus formosana " "Calocedrus macrolepis ""Calocedrus" is a genus of two to three species of
conifer oustree s in the cypress familyCupressaceae ; the common name is Incense-cedar. The genus is related to the genus "Thuja ", and has similar overlapping scale-leaves. "Calocedrus" differs from "Thuja" in the scale leaves being in apparent whorls of four (actually opposite decussate pairs like "Thuja", but not evenly spaced apart as in "Thuja", instead with the successive pairs closely then distantly spaced), and in the cones having just 2-3 pairs of moderately thin, erect scales, rather than 4-6 pairs of very thin scales in "Thuja". The generic name means "beautiful cedar"."Calocedrus decurrens" (syn. "Libocedrus decurrens", California Incense-cedar) is native to western
North America , with the bulk of the range in theUnited States , from central westernOregon through most ofCalifornia and the extreme west ofNevada , and also a short distance into northwestMexico in northernBaja California . It is a large tree, typically reaching heights of 40-60 m and a trunk diameter of up to 3 m (maxima, 69 m tall and 3.9 m diameter), and with a broad conic crown of spreading branches. The leaves are bright green on both sides of the shoots, and the cones 2-2.5 cm long. It is by far the most widely-known species in the genus, and is often simply called "Incense-cedar" without the regional qualifier. This tree is the preferred host of awood wasp , "Syntexis libocedrii" which lays its eggs in the smoldering wood immediately after a forest fire."Calocedrus formosana" (Taiwan Incense-cedar) is endemic on
Taiwan . It is very similar to "C. macrolepis", and some botanists treat it as a variety of that, "C. macrolepis" var. "formosana". It is a medium-size tree, growing to 25-30 m tall, and is rare in the wild, occurring only as scattered trees in mixed forests. The leaves are glaucous green on the upper side of the shoots, and conspicuously marked with bright white stomatal patches on the under side. The cones are 1.5-2 cm long, carried on a 1-1.5 cm stem."Calocedrus macrolepis" (Chinese Incense-cedar) is native to southwest
China fromGuangdong west toYunnan , and also in northernVietnam , northernLaos , extreme northernThailand and northeasternMyanmar (Burma). It is also a medium-size tree to 25-30 m tall, and like "C. formosana", is rare in the wild. The leaves and cones are similar to "C. formosana", differing most obviously in the shorter cone stem, only 0.5 cm long.Uses and cultivation
The
wood of "Calocedrus" is soft, moderately decay-resistant, and with a strong spicy-resinous fragrance. That of "C. decurrens" is the primary material for woodenpencil s, because it is soft and tends to sharpen easily without forming splinters. The two Asian species were (at least in the past) in very high demand forcoffin manufacture in China, due to the scent of the wood and its decay resistance. It is likely that past over-exploitation is responsible for their current rarity."Calocedrus decurrens" is a popular ornamental tree, grown particularly in cool summer climates like Britain and the
Pacific Northwest ofNorth America (Washington ,British Columbia ) for its very narrow columnar crown; this narrow crown is an unexplained consequence of the climatic conditions in these areas, and is not shown by trees in the wild. It is also valued for itsdrought tolerance. The Asian species are both very rare in cultivation.External links
* [http://wikiplants.com/wiki/tiki-index.php?page=Incense%20Cedar%20(Calocedrus%20decurrens%20(Torr.)%20Florin) "Calocedrus (Incense Cedar) at wikiPlants"]
* [http://www.pinetum.org/cones/CUcones.htm Arboretum de Villardebelle - cone photos]
* [http://www.conifers.org/cu/calo/index.htm Gymnosperm Database: "Calocedrus"]
* [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=105165 Flora of China: "Calocedrus"]
* [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=105165 Flora of North America: "Calocedrus"]
* [http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CADE27 USDA Plants Profile: "Calocedrus decurrens"]
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