Cupressaceaethe Cypress Family

By Andrew Larson

Genera

• 3 main genera within Cupressaceae– Chamaecyparis• Chamaecyparis thyoides: Atlantic white cedar

– Thuja• T. occidentalis: Northern/Eastern white cedar

– Juniperus• J. communis: Common juniper• J. virginiana: Eastern red cedar• J. horizontalis: Creeping juniper

Defining Characteristics• Coniferous gymnosperms• Trees or shrubs• Common habitats include swamps and other low-

lying habitats– Exception: Juniperus tend to grow in dryer habitats

• Evergreens with leaves made from scales• Female cones are small and leathery or woody– Cones are made up of small scales– Juniperus have berry-like cones

• Bark is leathery and deeply grooved

Cones

Thuja occidentalis (White Cedar)http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/fieldbio/Sylvain/website%20pics/cedar_cones_965.jpg

•Female cones are small and leathery or woody•Cones are made up of small scales

•Note: scales on leaves

Cones

•Juniperus have berry-like cones

Juniper communis (Common Juniper)http://media-2.web.britannica.com/eb-media/74/10574-004-A8463037.jpg

Bark

• Bark is leathery and deeply grooved

T. occidentalis (White Cedar)http://www.uwgb.edu/BIODIVERSITY/herbarium/gymnosperms/thuocc_bark01_web400gf.jpg

Chamaecyparis thyoidesAtlantic White Cedarhttp://www.nearctica.com/trees/conifer/cupress/Cthyoid3.jpg

Northern MN Cupressaceae

• Thuja occidentalis (Northern white cedar) are found throughout northern MN, especially in damp, shady environments. Some of the largest the author has seen are on the north shore of Lake Superior.

http://www.stolaf.edu/academics/naturallands/media/woodlands/coniferous/white_cedar_3.JPG

Northern MN Cupressaceae

• White-tail deer prefer cedar to other forage, especially in the winter. Evidence of this can be seen in “browse lines” along lake shore.

• The success rate of white cedar saplings is extremely low in area where the whitetail deer population is high

References

• Gleason, Henry, and Arthur Cronquist. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. 2. New York: New York Botanical Garden, 1991. Print.

• (all images have the URL nearby)