Description and Taxonomy
– Genus related to Thuja and has similar overlapping scale-leaves
– Calocedrus differs from Thuja in the scale leaves being in apparent whorls of four
– Cones of Calocedrus have 2-3 pairs of moderately thin, erect scales
– Calocedrus is the most widely known species in the genus
– It is often called incense cedar without the regional qualifier
– The generic name Calocedrus means beautiful cedar
– Cladogram shows the evolutionary relationships
– California incense cedar is a large tree, reaching heights of 40-60 m
– Taiwan incense cedar is similar to C. macrolepis and is a medium-sized tree
– Chinese incense cedar is also a medium-sized tree and is rare in the wild
Extinct Species
– Calocedrus huashanensis is known from compression fossils in southern China
– Calocedrus suleticensis is known from fossils in the Czech Republic
– Both species are known from branches, leaves, and cones
Uses
– Incense cedar was used by Native Americans in California to make bows
– The wood of Calocedrus is soft, moderately decay-resistant, and has a strong fragrance
– C. decurrens wood is used for wooden pencils
– Incense cedar was the preferred hearth board for lighting fires by friction
– California incense cedar is a popular ornamental tree and is drought-tolerant
Juniperus and Sabina Species
– Fokienia
– F.hodginsii
– Juniperus
– Section
– Juniperus
– J. brevifolia
– J. cedrus
– J.communis
– J.conferta
– J.drupacea
– J. formosana
– J. lutchuensis
– J. macrocarpa
– J. oxycedrus
– J.rigida
– Old World Species:
– J. chinensis
– J. convallium
– J. excelsa
– J. foetidissima
– J. indica
– J. komarovii
– J. phoenicea
– J. pingii
– J. procera
References
– World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP) by Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
– Journal of Botany, British and Foreign by Wilhelm Sulpiz Kurz
– Flora of China by Liguo Fu, Yong-fu Yu, Robert P. Adams, Aljos Farjon
– Gene duplications and phylogenomic conflict underlie major pulses of phenotypic evolution in gymnosperms by Gregory W. Stull et al.
– Nature Plants by Gregory W. Stull et al. Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calocedrus