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Catalog Data

Life Form:
Evergreen tree
Average Height:
30-65'
Bark Characteristics:
Exfoliating, red-brown
Bloom Characteristics:
Small, cone-like on end of short twigs.
Cone Characteristics:
Round, berry-like cones, blackish-green. Contain 1 to 2 seeds. Ripen in fall.
Dioecious:
Yes.
Fall Color:
Brown-green
Foliage Characteristics:
Dark, blue-green, scale-like
Structure:
Broadly conical to columnar
Range:
SE Canada to C and E USA, Mexico (Coahuila)
Habitat:
Sandstone or limestone forests to clay or sand stream banks, 1-1000 meters
Description:
The eastern red cedar has historically been used medicinally by various Native American people. The tree is also known for its aromatic wood, which is a popular choice for making cedar chests due to its insect repelling properties. Females of this tree produce heavy “berry” crops, which are popular among birds.
Hardiness:
-50 - 30 F
Attracts:
Host for butterflies
Ethnobotanical Uses:
Used by many tribes as incense in purification and ritual, and symbolizes the tree of life. Durable wood was used to make lance shafts, bows, and flutes. Menomini wove mats of cedar bark which were used for many purposes.
Medicinal / Pharmaceutical:
Blackfeet tribe used the "berries" of this plant to make a tea to stop vomiting and as a general tonic. Blackfeet also used plant in a mixture to treat arthritis, rheumatism, or backaches. Cheyenne used red cedar to treat persistent coughs, as a sedative for calming a hyperactive person, to speed delivery in childbirth. Cheyenne, Flathead, Nez Perce, Kutenai, and Sioux used cedar to treat colds, fevers, tonsillitis, and pneumonia. Gros Ventres used cedar to cure asthma and control bleeding. Crow people used cedar for diarrhea, to stop lung or nasal hemorrhage, and after childbirth for cleansing and healing. Parts of cedar were listed in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia at various points as a diuretic and reagent.
Provenance:
From a cultivated plant not of known wild origin
Topic:
Trees  Search this
Living Collections  Search this
Common Name:
Eastern Redcedar
Red Cedar
Virginia Cedar
Group:
[vascular plants]
Class:
Equisetopsida
Subclass:
Pinidae
Order:
Cupressales
Family:
Cupressaceae
Genus:
Juniperus
Species:
virginiana
Accession Number:
2014-1247A
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
Smithsonian Gardens Tree Collection
On Display:
National Museum of Natural History
Data Source:
Smithsonian Gardens
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ax703167c73-abd4-4d0b-8ef3-f84452bc0417
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:ofeo-sg_2014-1247A