Forgot you were here greenie. Western Red Cedar- Thuja plicata-
Wildlife of Coastal Rainforests -
Plants & Animals that live in the mountains and valleys of the Pacific Northwest must be adapted to a high level of rainfall. The Greater Vancouver Area receives about 2 metres of precipitation each year, mostly in the form of rain. This, combined with a mild temperate climate with average summer temperatures hovering near 18 degrees Celcius and average winter temperatures above zero degrees Celcius, allows the trees to grow rapidly in a moist warm environment. These forests in turn provide a good place for many animals to make their home.
Right now with the amount of summer rain we don't get anymore, they are going into shock and their foliage is turning brown.
Ever heard of the Chamaecyparis nootkatensis- Yellow-cedar?
"Nootkatensis" (in the Latin name) refers to Nootka Sound on the west side of Vancouver Island where this species was first identified. A close relative of Port Orford Cedar, Alaska Yellow cedar can be found west of the Coast Mountains and on North West Coast islands. It grows up to 80 feet (24 meters) tall and up to 3 feet (90 cm) in diameter. The wood is of a fine, close texture, is easily worked, very durable and has a strong fragrance.
Yellow Cedar is very desirable and commercially valuable for its straight grain, yellow color and its resistance to decay. Prized in Japanese temples and shrines for its dignity and elegance, It is also used extensively for boat building, sauna manufacturing, fine cabinetry and interior and exterior millwork.
Aboriginal people used yellow cedar extensively for paddles, masks, dishes, bows and to make clothing and blankets.
You are correct that it is not a member of the actual cedar family-
Quote:
Deodar Cedar – Cedrus deodara (Pinaceae) An evergreen conifer native to the Himalayas. Deodar Cedar is one of four species which are the “true” cedars in the genus Cedrus. Deodar Cedar is distinguished by leaves up to 5 cm long borne on short shoots like larch, but the leaves of Cedrus are not deciduous. The cones are upright at maturity, similar to Abies, but they take 2-3 years to mature. Unlike our native conifers which shed pollen in the spring, Cedrus sheds pollen in the late summer or autumn. The specific name deodara is derived from the Sanskrit name, 'devadara', meaning timber of the gods. It is the national tree of Pakistan. The related Cedrus libani is the Cedar-of-Lebanon, and BC’s native western red cedar and yellow cypress (also known as yellow-cedar) are not considered “true” cedars as they are in different genera and a different family. Although this individual lost most of its needles after cold damage in the winter of 2006/07, it is now recovering.
This is a map of the UVic campus and a forest biology tree map. Our campus is so beautiful.
web.uvic.ca/forbiol/news/Treewalk.pdf
Sad we will possibly lose these giants. Sad we have to ignore our needs to feed our greeds. That may be our epitaph.