Thuja plicata

Sometimes written as "Red Cedar."

A common tree in the western United States. Large, to 60m. Fluted and buttressed base. Branches J shaped. Bark grey to reddish brown. Aromatic. Leaves scale or braid-like. Seed cones about one cm, egg-shaped, woody. Likes moist to wet soils at low to medium elevations.

The cedar was called the Tree of Life by many aboriginal people of the Pacific Northwest. You can use cedar for almost anything, from clothing to coffins, cradles to fish weirs, canoes to tea, baskets to spirit whistles.

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