California river cedar (Calocedrus)
Appearance: An evergreen coniferous tree with a strikingly slender shape, columnar, a very regularly shaped crown, whose top is unlike many other species of cypress and cypress, it does not run away sharply, but it is clearly rounded. Height approx 30 meters. A slender columnar figure is seen less frequently in natural habitats, there are rather conical and more branchy crowns. Branches relatively short, they rise obliquely, are bent upwards, rarely – are hanging or bent downwards.
The trunk is usually covered with branches almost to the ground, only in dense forest stands the branches are rarer or completely absent in the lower part of the trunk.
Dark brown or reddish brown bark, it is divided into larger planes, irregularly torn and bent from the trunk at both ends.
Annual shoots initially greenish, later they turn brown.
Deciduous, Triangular, widening slightly J<at the peak, there, however, clearly folded, they grow four in very regular whorls – that is why small twigs look a bit like horsetail. When rubbed, they give off a strong smell similar to that of turpentine or floor polish, The flat twigs are slightly brighter on the bottom than on the top and strongly fragmented. Mono-tree species, male and female flowers placed separately on the same tree.
Male flowers (cones) very small, length approx 3 mm, they mainly grow on the tops of side twigs. When pollinated, they are light yellow or golden yellow, but even then, not very bulky.
Female cones also standing at the ends, during flowering they are very inconspicuous, greenish, and during the fruiting season they are approx 2 cm long and consist of only six scales, only two of which bear seeds and produce seeds. Cones of this species resemble those of Thuja species, however, here the individual scales are somewhat frayed at the top.
Seeds with one wing for spreading by the wind and a strongly reduced bud of the second wing; otherwise covered with resin glands. Occurrence: California cedar was originally only found in the western part of the USA. especially in the states of Oregon and California. Because of its "elegant” in appearance, this species is very often used as an ornamental park tree.
Flowering period: March, in mild climates also earlier.
General thoughts: The colors of the wood are a peculiarity of Californian cedar – heartwood lighter than white. In America, it is sometimes used to make furniture.
The wood is very soft, has a homogeneous structure and can be processed extremely evenly and smoothly. Suitable for woodcarving and modeling work.