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Atlantic white cedar

Scientific Name: Chamaecyparis thyoides

Family: Cupressaceae

Category: Gymnosperm

Growth: Tree

Duration: Perennial

Other Names: GA (Atlantic white cedar), ME (Atlantic white-ceda

       

Atlantic White Cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides)

The Atlantic white cedar, scientifically known as Chamaecyparis thyoides, is an evergreen tree found in wetlands along the Atlantic coast of North America.

Considerations for Pets

  • The tree has scaly, fan-shaped foliage.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Chamaecyparis thyoides (L.) B.S.P. (Britton, Sterns, and Poggenburg).
  • Common Names: Atlantic white cedar, Atlantic white cypress, white-cedar, southern white-cedar, swamp-cedar, whitecedar falsecypress, juniper, White Cypress, False-cedar.
  • Family: Cupressaceae

Distribution and Habitat

  • Native to the Atlantic coast of North America, ranging from central Maine south to Florida and westward along the Gulf coast to Florida and Alabama.
  • Found in swamps, marshes, bogs, and other wet areas, often in small dense stands.
  • Common in Atlantic White Cedar Swamps, particularly in the Pine Barrens.

Morphological Characteristics and Growth Habits

  • A tall, columnar evergreen tree, typically 40-75 ft high, but often taller in the wild.
  • Features scaly, fan-shaped, blue-green foliage.
  • Has a thick trunk with fissured, fibrous, reddish-brown bark and a broad base.
  • Has short, ascending branches.
  • It exhibits a cone-like shape.

Ecological Role

  • An obligate wetland species.
  • Its swamps are rare and magnificent natural communities.
  • Found in peatland environments.
  • Geographically restricted and of conservation concern in some areas.

Quirky Facts

  • Atlantic white cedar wood is naturally resistant to rot, decay, and insects. Traditionally, it has been a preferred wood for boat builders and decoy carvers.
  • These trees grow slowly and may live for more than 1000 years.
  • Trees buried in peat bogs for extended periods remain well-preserved due to the wood's resistance to decay.

Interactions with Other Organisms

  • Associated plant species vary in Atlantic White-Cedar (AWC) swamps.

Further Information

  • USDA NRCS New York State Office.
  • U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service profiles of important freshwater wetland.
  • Encyclopedia of Life.
  • AWC Flora Database (Aimlee Laderman Ph.D., Yale University) - currently under renovation.