Calocedrus decurrens
Calocedrus decurrens, or incense cedar, is an evergreen conifer native to western North America. It is the region’s sole native species of Calocedrus.
Cupressaceae: The cypress family is a group of conifers that includes cedars, junipers, and redwoods. Incense cedar belongs to this family, whose members bear seed cones and scale-like leaves.
Incense cedar lumber: Incense cedar lumber is wood sawn from Calocedrus decurrens, valued for its workability and resistance to decay. The tree’s aromatic, durable wood is used in construction and woodworking.
California incense cedar: California incense cedar is the common name for Calocedrus decurrens, a conifer of western North America. This common name emphasizes the species’ strong association with California.
Bark: Bark is the outer protective tissue covering the stems and trunks of woody plants. Mature incense cedar develops reddish-brown bark that separates into long fibrous strips.
Cedrus: Cedrus is a genus of true cedars native to mountain regions of the Mediterranean and Himalaya. Despite its common name, incense cedar is not a true cedar in the genus Cedrus.
Calocedrus: Calocedrus is a genus of evergreen conifers native to western North America and eastern Asia. Calocedrus decurrens is the genus’s North American species.
Pencil: A pencil is a writing instrument with a graphite or colored core held in a protective casing. Incense cedar’s straight-grained, easily sharpened wood has long been used for pencil casings.
Thuja plicata: Thuja plicata, western redcedar, is a large conifer native to the Pacific Northwest and nearby regions. It is another western North American cypress-family tree, but belongs to a different genus.
Pollen cone: A pollen cone is a small reproductive structure that produces pollen in conifers. Incense cedar’s small pollen cones release pollen in spring.
Thuja: Thuja is a genus of cypress-family conifers commonly called arborvitaes or northern white-cedars. Incense cedar is sometimes confused with Thuja species, but belongs to Calocedrus.