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Family Cupressaceae – Redwoods,
Cypress, Arborvitae, Juniper There are thirty (many monotypic) genera and 142 species in the family Cupressaceae, now widely regarded as including the Taxodiaceae, previously treated as a distinct family. The Cupressaceae are found in the fossil record as far back as the Jurassic Period, about 210 million years ago. [Tree Encyclopedia] [Trees Table of Contents] |
| The heartwood of many species of
Cupressaceae is resistant to termite damage and fungal
decay, and therefore it is widely used in contact with soil.
Most prominent in the flora are redwood and baldcypress; the
premier coffin wood of China, Cunninghamia lanceolata,
is another member of the family. Other genera, usually
called cedars, may have aromatic woods with a variety of
specialty uses. Wooden pencils are made from incense-cedar,
Calocedrus decurrens, and eastern red cedar,
Juniperus virginiana, which is also used for lining
cedar chests. Wood from species of
Thuja is still used for
"cedar" roofing shingles. Please select a thumbnail for more and larger images and information on each species. |
 Arborvitae Genus Thuja |
 Obelisk Juniper Juniperus chinensis 'Obelisk' |
 Ames Juniper Juniperus chinensis 'Ames' |
 Dwarf Japanese Garden Juniper Juniperus procumbens 'Nana' |
