 |
Chamaecyparis nootkatensis YELLOW CEDAR, ALASKA CEDAR Yellow cedar is a tree 20-50 m tall with a narrow crown and a slender, drooping leader and drooping branches (although many non-native ornamental species of Chamaecyparis don't droop). The bluish-green scale-like leaves are sharp-pointed, grow in four similar rows, and have an unpleasant, mildewy smell when crushed. When brushed "against the grain," yellow cedar branchlets feel very prickly. The female cones are round, light green and fleshy when immature, ripening to brownish and woody when mature with 4-6 mushroom-shaped scales. Yellow cedar is the longest-lived tree in our region with individuals reaching 1000&endash;1500 years old. It is found in moist to wet sites at middle to high elevations on the west side of both the Olympic and Cascade mountains although it can be found at sea level on the west side of Vancouver Island. |