Common Name:
ARBOR VITAE, WHITE-CEDAR, CEDAR
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Coefficient of Conservatism:
4
Coefficient of Wetness:
-3
Wetness Index:
FACW
Physiognomy:
Nt Tree
J. Kelly
This is the characteristic tree of “cedar swamps” that occupy hundreds of thousands of hectares of wet ground in northern Michigan, much of it nearly impenetrable, except by the deer for which both shelter and a favorite food are provided. Cedar may be found at least sparsely in almost all kinds of forests, except the driest; on sand dunes, shores, and rock outcrops (especially limestone); along streams, in springy areas. It thrives on calcareous gravelly shores and ridges near Lakes Michigan and Huron in the northern part of the state. Often cultivated, and sometimes spreading from plantings in southernmost Michigan.
The youngest seedlings have opposite or whorled flattened needle-like leaves, but the first branches have the characteristic scale-like leaves. The flat unkeeled leaves (i.e., those on top and bottom of twigs in contrast to the keeled leaves straddling the sides) have a ± prominent resin gland near the apex; this is especially evident on the lower leaf.