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Nootka False-cypress

The Chamaecyparis Nootkatensis is commonly known as Alaska Cedar, Alaska Cypress, Alaska Yellow-cedar, Alaska Yellowcedar, Alaska-cedar, Cypress, Mountain Cypress, Nootka Cypress, Nootka False-cypress, Sitka Cypress, Yellow Cypress, as well as Yellow-cedar

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Growing Regions

Alaska-cedar is found in the Pacific Coast mountain ranges from south-central Alaska to southwestern Oregon with isolated groves in the Siskiyou Moutains of northern California [1,23,24]. The eastern edge of Alaska-cedar's range is defined by two disjunct populations: one in the Selkirk Mountains of southeastern British Columbia [33] and one in the Aldrich Mountains of central Oregon [1].

     

General Information

The scientific name of Alaska-cedar is Chamaecyparis nootkatensis (D. Don) Spach. It is a member of the Cypress family (Cupressaceae) [32]. Alaska-cedar hybridizes with members of the genera Xanthocyparis and Cupressus. The hybrids are as follows [23,24,61]: Chamaecyparis nootkatensis × Xanthocyparis vietnamensis Cupressocyparis × notabilis (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis × Cupressus glabra) Cupressocyparis × ovensii (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis × Cupressus lusitanica) Cupressocyparis × leylandii (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis × Cupressus macrocarpa) The Cupressocyparis hybrids have been extensively introduced in Great Britain [23].

Alaska-cedar is listed as a dominant or codominant overstory species in
the following publications:

A preliminary classification system for vegetation of Alaska [55].
The forest communities of Mount Rainer National Park [17].
A preliminary classification of forest communities in the central
  portion of the western Cascades in Oregon [9].
Preliminary plant associationa of the southern Cascade Mountain Province [2].
Preliminary plant associations of the Siskiyou Mountain Province [3].
Vegetation and the environment in old growth forests of northern
  southeast Alaska:  A plant association classification [44].

Much of the information presented here is attributed to:
Griffith, Randy Scott. 1992. Chamaecyparis nootkatensis. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available at USDA Forest Service.

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