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• Needle-leaved woody plants
• Thuja occidentalis

Thuja occidentalis — northern white-cedar

Facts

Northern white-cedar is widespread in moist and wet forests of the north, but becoming increasingly rare and local in Connecticut and Massachusetts (where it is considered vulnerable to extinction). It is one of New England's longest-lived trees, lasting 200-300 years, hence its common name arbor-vitae (tree of life). Because the wood is resinous and resists decay, northern white cedar is a popular choice for constructing log cabins and manufacturing shingles. The wood is very light and insulates well. Its fragrant foliage and pyramidal growth form (in open habitats) make it much sought-after for gardens, and many cultivars exist. The aromatic sap is rich in vitamin C. Scientists study the rings of these exceptionally long-lived trees to understand year-to-year changes in past climates.

Habitat

Cliffs, balds, or ledges, fens, forests, ridges or ledges, shores of rivers or lakes, swamps, woodlands

Characteristics

• Fruits or seeds

  Seed cone base

  NA

  Seed cone bracts

  NA

  Seed cone form

  the seed cone is longer than wide, with woody scales attached at the base

  Seed cone scales

  NA

  Seed cone shape

  the seed cone is ellipsoid (oval, tapering to rounded ends)

  Seed cone symmetry

  the seed cone is symmetrical

  Seed cone umbo position

  there is no raised portion on the seed cone scale

  Seed cone umbo spine

  NA

  Seed wings

  the seeds have wing-like projections

• Growth form

  Growth form

  the plant is a tree

• Leaves

  Leaf arrangement

  there are two needle-like leaves per node

  Leaf base

  NA

  Leaf clustering

  the needle-like leaves are single, with two per node

  Leaf cross-section

  the needle-like leaves are flattened (can't be rolled between the fingers)

  Leaf duration

  the needle-like leaves remain green all winter

  Leaf form

  the leaves are scale-like

  Leaf glands

  the needle-like leaves have glands on the underside

  Leaf stalks

  the needle-like leaves do not have a leaf stalk

  Leaf types

  there are two distinct types of needle-like leaves on the twig

  Leaves overlapping

  the needle-like leaves are tightly overlapping so that they hide the twig surface

• Place

  Habitat

  • terrestrial
  • wetlands

  New England state

  • Connecticut
  • Maine
  • Massachusetts
  • New Hampshire
  • Rhode Island
  • Vermont

  Specific habitat

  • cliffs, balds, or ledges
  • fens
  • forests
  • ridges or ledges
  • shores of rivers or lakes
  • swamps
  • woodlands

• Stem, shoot, branch

  Bark resin blisters

  there are no resin blisters on the bark

  Branchlet thickness

  1–2 mm

  Leaves on shoots

  the needle-like leaves do not grow in tight clusters on a short, knob-like shoot

  Twig bloom

  there is no bloom on the twig

  Twig hair type

  the twigs have few or no hairs on them

  Twig hairs

  the twig does not have hairs

Wetland status

Usually occurs in wetlands, but occasionally in non-wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: FACW)

New England distribution and conservation status

From the dichotomous key of Flora Novae Angliae