Chamaecyparis lawsoniana
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana | |
---|---|
Old-growth stand of C. lawsoniana in California | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Gymnospermae |
Division: | Pinophyta |
Class: | Pinopsida |
Order: | Cupressales
|
Family: | Cupressaceae |
Genus: | Chamaecyparis |
Species: | C. lawsoniana
|
Binomial name | |
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana | |
Natural range of Port Orford cedar |
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, known as Port Orford cedar
Description
A large evergreen tree, specimens mature up to 200 ft (61 m) tall or more, with trunks 4–7 ft (1.2–2 m) in diameter, exceptionally 8–9 ft (2.4–2.7 m).[4] The bark is silver-brown, vertically furrowed, and 6–10 inches (15–25 cm) thick near the base.[4] The foliage is arranged in lacy, flat sprays with a feathery appearance,[4] usually somewhat glaucous (i.e. blue-green) in color. The leaves are scale-like, 1⁄8–3⁄16 inch (3–5 mm) long, with narrow white markings on the underside, and produced on somewhat flattened shoots. The foliage gives off a rather pungent scent, not unlike parsley. The seed cones are globose, 9⁄32–9⁄16 inch (7–14 mm) in diameter, with 6–10 scales, green at first, maturing brown in early fall, 6–8 months after pollination. The male cones are 1⁄8–5⁄32 inch (3–4 mm) long, dark red, turning brown after pollen release in early spring. The seeds fall quickly and can float on water.[4]
Old specimens lack branches near the base and often have dead tops. They can live up to about 600 years of age.[4]
Taxonomy
The species was first discovered (by European Americans) near
Distribution and habitat
The species is
Ecology
The thick bark provides resistance to wildfires, and the species regenerates well on disrupted land in a variety of soils, but requires consistent moisture. It is
Disease
In the wild, the species is seriously and uniquely threatened by a root disease caused by the oomycete pathogen, Phytophthora lateralis, accidentally introduced in the early 1950s following the fungus's arrival to the Pacific Northwest on nursery trees.[4] This disease is also a problem for horticultural plantings in some parts of North America. The tree is sometimes killed, though less often, by other species of Phytophthora.
Phytophthora lateralis infection begins when mycelium, from a germinated spore, invade the roots. The infection then spreads through the inner bark and cambium around the base of the tree. Spread up the trunk is generally limited. Infected tissue dies and effectively girdles the tree. Large trees are more likely to be infected than small trees due to larger root areas (although all trees at the edges of infected streams will eventually succumb). However, large trees can often live with the infections for a longer duration (up to several years).
C. lawsoniana in streamside populations are highly susceptible to P. lateralis infection. However, the rate of fungal spread through populations in dry upland areas appears to be slow. P. lateralis spreads through water via mobile spores (zoospores). The fungus also produces resting spores (chlamydospores) that can persist in soil for a long period of time. New infections generally begin when soil is transferred from an infected population to a non-infected population via water, human or animal movement.[4] After initial infection in streamside populations, secondary spread via zoospores quickly infects all downstream individuals.
Human facilitated spread is thought to be responsible for most new, and all long-distance, infections. Soil on vehicle tires, especially logging trucks and other off-road vehicles, is considered the most pressing problem due to the volume of soil that can be carried and the traffic rate in and between susceptible areas. Spread on boots and mountain bike tires has also been suggested and probably contributes to new infections locally.[6] Animal-facilitated spread is thought to occur, but is localized.
The United States Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management attempt to prevent Phytophthora spread through road closures, monitoring, research and education. Research has focused on determining the dynamics and mechanisms of spread, as well as attempts to breed resistant trees. One solution against Phytophtera is known generically as Mancozeb and also commercially known as Dithane (C). Commercial preparations of the parasitic fungus Pythium oligandrum are licensed for pest control, and documented to predate many species of Phytophthora.[7]
Similar species
The extinct Eocene species Chamaecyparis eureka, known from fossils found on Axel Heiberg Island in Canada, is noted as resembling C. lawsoniana and C. pisifera.[8]
The associated genus Calocedrus (incense-cedar) has thick orange-brown bark and the bark of Thuja plicata (western redcedar) is comparatively thin; both have different foliage than Port Orford cedar.[4]
Cultivation
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana thrives best in well-drained but moist soils, in a fairly sheltered position in full sun. Several hundred named
Name | Height (m) | Spread (m) | Shape | Foliage Colour | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
'Aurea Densa' | 1.5 | 1.0 | broadly conical | yellow-green | [10] |
'Chilworth Silver' | 2.5 | 1.0 | broadly columnar | silver-blue | [11] |
'Dik's Weeping' | 12.0 | 4.0 | columnar, weeping | blue-green | [12] |
'Ellwoodii' | 8.0 | 4.0 | columnar | grey-green | [13] |
'Ellwood's Gold' | 4.0 | 1.0 | columnar | yellow/grey-green | [14] |
'Ellwood's Pillar' | 2.5 | 1.5 | narrowly columnar | grey-green | [15] |
'Fletcheri' | 12.0 | 4.0 | columnar | grey-green | [16] |
'Gimbornii' | 2.5 | 2.5 | rounded | grey-green | [17] |
'Golden Wonder' | 20.0 | 4.0 | columnar | yellow-green | [18] |
'Grayswood Feather' | 4.0 | 1.5 | narrowly columnar | green | [19] |
'Green Globe' | 0.3 | 0.3 | rounded | dark green | [20] |
'Imbricata Pendula' | 8.0 | 4.0 | conical, weeping, pendulous | green | [21] |
'Kilmacurragh' | 12.0 | 4.0 | columnar | dark green | [22] |
'Lanei Aurea' | 8.0 | 2.5 | columnar | yellow-green | [23] |
'Little Spire' | 2.5 | 1.5 | conical | dark green | [24] |
'Minima Aurea' | 1.0 | 1.0 | conical | yellow-green | [25] |
'Minima Glauca' | 2.5 | 2.5 | rounded | blue-green | [26] |
'Pembury Blue' | 12.00+ | 8.00 | conical | blue-green | [27] |
'Pygmaea Argentea' | 2.5 | 1.0 | rounded | cream/blue-green | [28] |
'Stardust' | 4.0 | 1.5 | columnar | yellow-green | [29] |
'Summer Snow' | 2.5 | 1.5 | conical | cream/green | [30] |
'Triomf van Boskoop' | 25.0 | 8.0 | broadly columnar | grey-green | [31] |
'Wisselii' | 12.0+ | 4.0 | narrowly conical | blue-green | [32] |
'Wissel's Saguaro' | 6.0 | 1.0 | narrow, upright | blue-green | [33] |
Uses
The species was discovered by Euro-Americans in the 1850s. The
The wood is considered more than acceptable for use in stringed instruments. Its fine grain, good strength and tonal quality are highly regarded for soundboards in guitar making.[36]
Gallery
-
Foliage with cones: immature seed cones below, pollen cones above
-
Male cones in spring with diagnostic red colour
-
Mature female cones
-
Cultivar 'Imbricata Pendula', Rosemoor, Devon, UK
See also
- Cedar wood
References
- Snyder, Gary. 1999. "The Gary Snyder Reader". Counterpoint. ISBN 1-887178-90-2
- . Retrieved 13 November 2021.
- ^ a b USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Chamaecyparis lawsoniana". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
- ^ BSBI List 2007 (xls). Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland. Archived from the original (xls) on 2015-06-26. Retrieved 2014-10-17.
- ^ OCLC 1141235469.
- ISBN 0-902-198-84-X. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2017-03-28.
- ^ Soden, Tabitha (October 19, 2015). "Roads in the Six Rivers National Forest close to prevent spread of root disease". Times-Standard. Eureka, Calif. Archived from the original on 20 August 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2016.
- ^ Plato Roberts, Amy. "Biopesticides Fact Sheet" (PDF). epa.gov. Retrieved 10 February 2018.
- doi:10.1139/B03-007.
- ^ "AGM Plants - Ornamental" (PDF). Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 16. Retrieved 24 January 2018.
- ^ "Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Aurea Densa'". RHS Gardening. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Chilworth Silver'". RHS Gardening. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Dik's Weeping'". RHS Gardening. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 2013-01-28.
- ^ "Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Ellwoodii'". RHS Gardening. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Ellwood's Gold'". RHS Gardening. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Ellwood's Pillar'". RHS Gardening. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 26 January 2018.
- ^ "Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Fletcheri'". RHS Gardening. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Gimbornii'". RHS Gardening. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Golden Wonder'". RHS Gardening. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 17 July 2020.
- ^ "Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Grayswood Feather'". RHS Gardening. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Green Globe'". RHS Gardening. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Imbricata Pendula'". RHS Gardening. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Kilmacurragh'". RHS Gardening. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
- ^ "Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Lanei Aurea'". RHS Gardening. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Little Spire'". RHS Gardening. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
- ^ "Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Minima Aurea'". RHS Gardening. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Minima Glauca'". RHS Gardening. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
- ^ "Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Pembury Blue'". RHS Gardening. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Pygmaea Argentea'". RHS Gardening. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Stardust'". RHS Gardening. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
- ^ "Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Summer Snow'". RHS Gardening. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Triomf van Boskoop'". RHS Gardening. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Wisselii'". RHS Gardening. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
- ^ "Chamaecyparis lawsoniana 'Wissel's Saguaro'". RHS Gardening. Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
- ^ Snyder 1999 pg. 225
- ^ Kroes, Watkins, and Delp: Aircraft Maintenance and Repair, sixth edition, page 66, McGraw Hill, 1993
- ^ "Port Orford Cedar tops". Luthiers Mercantile International, Inc.
Further reading
- Farjon, A. (2013). "Chamaecyparis lawsoniana". . Retrieved 13 November 2021. Listed as Vulnerable (VU A1de+2e v2.3)
- Siskiyou National Forest has posted precautions for persons entering areas with Port Orford Cedar populations ([1]).
- Jules, E. S.; M. J. Kaufmann; W. Ritts & A. L. Carroll (2002). "Spread of an invasive pathogen over a variable landscape: a non-native root rot on Chamaecyparis lawsoniana". Ecology. 83 (11): 3167–3181. JSTOR 3071851.
- Hunt, J. 1959. Phytophthora lateralis on Port-Orford-cedar. Research Note 172: 1–6. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station.
- Roth, L. F.; Trione, E. J. & Ruhmann, W. H. (1957). "Phytophthora induced root rot of native Port-Orford-cedar". Journal of Forestry. 55: 294–298.
- Torgeson, D. C., Young, R. A., & Milbrath, J. A. 1954. Phytophthora root rot diseases of Lawson cypress and other ornamentals. Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin. 537: 1–18. Corvallis, OR: Oregon State College.
- Trione, E. J. (1959). "The pathology of Phytophthora lateralis on native Chamaecyparis lawsoniana". Phytopathology. 49: 306–310.
- Tucker, C. M.; Milbrath, J. A. (1942). "Root rot of Chamaecyparis caused by a species of Phytophthora". Mycologia. 34 (1): 94–103. JSTOR 3754945.
- Zobel, D. B., Roth, L. F., & Hawk, G. M. 1985. Ecology, pathology, and management of Chamaecyparis lawsoniana. General Technical Report. PNW-184: 1–161. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station.
- Uchytil, Ronald J. (1990). "Chamaecyparis lawsoniana". Fire Effects Information System (FEIS). US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Forest Service (USFS), Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory.