The PALMETTO, Spring 1993, Page 5 The ''Florida Cedars" by Jim Riach The term "Florida Cedars" is a misnomer. Most "Florida Cedars" are Cupressaceae, not Cedrus. Similarities in morphology make it difficult to distinguish between the Cupressaceae found in Florida. Here is a description of some of the differences and similarities.

When somebody mentions "Florida cedars" to you, you may The "cedars" of Florida have been found in a variety of habitats. wonder what they really mean. They probably are not talking Chamaecyparis thyoides has been found in areas classified as about a pure cedar of the "Cedrus" family. They could mean the creek swamps, bay heads with braided stream channe!s, boggy "stinking cedar" (Torreya taxifolia), an endangered member of the flatwoods, shallow cypress sloughs, savannahs, and bottomlands. "Taxaceae" family. Or the "Atlantic white cedar" (Chamaecyparis Although little literature on the Florida Juniperus virginiana exists, thyoides), of the "Cupressaceae" family - not a cedar at all, but a substantial amount of literature on its distribution across South a "juniper" (Juniperus), a genus that used to be classified as a Carolina and Georgia does. In South Carolina it has been found in "Pinus". floodplain forests, midslope oak/hickory forests, flatrock com• The Cupressaceae family consists of 15 genera and about 130 munities, and old-field pine forests in the Piedmont Province, but species that are distributed world wide. Of these, only five genera is most common in xeric pine/mixed hardwood forests in Sandhill and 26 species are distributed in North America, three genera in Province. In Cumberland Island, Georgia, it has been found in southeast United States, and two varieties of one species in areas described as the last successional stage from salt marshes to Florida! a subtropical, broad-leaved, mixed hardwood forest. J. virginiana Somebody referring to cedar in extreme north Florida probably silicicola has been found in areas called riparian wetlands, hydric means the "eastern red cedar" (Juniperus virginiana). If they hammocks, tidal marshes, open fields, beaches, shell mounds, thin found the tree in central Florida it is likely the "southern red woods, established dunes, and brackish sites. cedar" (Juniperus virginiana silicicola) about which they speak. The purpose of this article is to attempt to clarify some of the Of the cedars found in Florida, it has the most extensive distribu• distinctions between Cupressaceae species and varieties, and their tion in the state. Up until recently it was thought that the two red corresponding habitats. The subject matter is complicated by the cedars were two distinct species of Juniperus, but morphological use of such diverse descriptive terms as those used to describe and chemical comparisons indicated that the differences between Florida Cupressaceae habitats. The scope of the ecological the two red cedars may not be significant enough to allow them perspectives considered include only the most common natural to be classified into different species. It has since become widely habitats of the different Cupressaceae. Perhaps this information accepted that J. silicicola should be considered to be a variety of will help us better understand the meaning of "Florida cedars" and J. virginiana (pers. comm. Dr. Robert Adams, June 15, 1992). increase our knowledge about Florida Cupressaceae.

Juniperus virginiana Juniperus virginiana silkicola Chamaecyparis thyoides Geographical Distribution: . Geographical distribution: Geographical distribution: J. virginiana barely comes into the The Florida range of J. virginiana C. thyoides covers most of the Panhan• central peninsula area, skirting the Flori• silicicola lies within the boundaries of dle within the boundaries of Escambia da Panhandle on the border with Georgia Sarasota County in the southwest, County on the west and Liberty and and Alabama from the eastern border of Brevard County in the southeast, Nassau Franklin counties on the east. Hamilton County to the western border in . County in the northeast, and Escambia Ecosystems: Escambia. . County in the northwest. From Baker Chamaecyparis thyoides is found most• Ecosystems: County to Escambia it occurs only on the ly in the Florida Panhandle, mainly in the Juniperus virginiana is found in xeric southern half of the Panhandle. However, "Apalachicola Delta District" near black• northern pine/palm/mixed hardwood it is more prevalent along the coastal water rivers that carry dissolved organic temperate forests on Florida uplands~ It is areas, decreasing in importance farther debris. The vegetation communities that found within the areas of temperate hard• inland. dominate this area are pine flatwoods, wood forests and the old-field succession Ecosystems: mixed hardwood swamps, salt marshes, communities in the sandhill/clayhill ter• Juniperus virginiana silicicola is found and dunes. The terrain is built up from rain of the Florida Panhandle. It is con• mostly ill hydric hammock swamps of the Apalachicola River sediments where sidered to be a pioneer species, being the northern Gulf Coast. Hydric ham• Karst is absent. able to colonize in disturbed areas. In the mock communities appear in ecosystems Chamaecyparis thyoides grows mostly J. virginiana distribution range, it falls in conjunction with poorly drained pine on peaty soils underlain by sand. They within physiographic "districts" in the flatwoods, bay swamps, shrub bogs, and will also grow on clayey sands and loams "Southern Pine District" across the border cypress swamps. Some examples of these in the Panhandle. The soil's pH range is to the "Ocala Uplift District". ecosystems include Tate's Hell on north• between 3.5 and 7.5, approximate fire The majority of the vegetative commu• west Florida's Panhandle coast, and frequency is once per century, organic nities found throughout these physio• Osceola National Forest on the northeast. matter accumulation is less than one graphic districts include pine lands and In the northeast range the soils are meter, and the main water source is from mixed hardwoods. The J. virginian a can Quaternary Period soils that are rich in rivers and tributaries. Seedlings require continued column 1, next page continued column 2. next page continued column 3, next page Page 6, The PALMETTO, Spring 1993 Juniperus virginiana Juniperus virginiana silil:il:ola Cluunaecyparis thyoides compete with these hardwoods in poor peat, alluvium, and marl. San Pedro Bay wet soil for survival because of their soil conditions, thriving in full sun on and Gulf Hammock on the northwest and shallow root system, but they do not poor, dry soils where little else will suc• north-central Florida, respectively, lie on tolerate standing water. Saplings of this ceed. It is not shade or fire tolerant and calcium-rich, sinkhole-susceptible Oligo• species need full sun to grow and will is found in soils with a pH range from cene and Eocene period limestone and not survive in closed canopies. In dis• 4.7 to 7.8. The J. virginiana cannot com• dolomite. This is significant since turbid open spaces, if the seedlings are pete with the hardwoods in good soil Juniperus grows particularly well on densely distributed, they may crowd out conditions because of the shade-produc• calcium-rich soils. Additionally, it indi• competitors by forming a dense, tall ing canopy of the hardwoods. That is cates that this tree has succeeded in a stand. why, even though J. virginiana has its terrain that has been stressful for most The open disturbed spaces are usually best growth in light loams of limestone vegetation for a very long period of time. the result of fire. C. thyoides is not fire origin, it occurs more frequently on dry, Mullet Key on the central Florida coast• tolerant. The larger trees may survive a rocky, shallow soils typical of the line represents the southwestern-most surface fire, but any fire can crown and Dougherty Karst District. distribution in soils that are dominated by kill trees of all sizes. If there is no fue There is no single, dominant species phosphatic sand, clay, marl, and sandy for an extended period of time, it is pre• found in the xeric pine/mixed hardwoods, limestone. dicted that the C. thyoides stands would but some of the competing species may Hydric swamps are considered an im• be succeeded by shade-resistant hard• include live oak (Quercus virginiana), portant coastal ecosystem supporting bear woods, including sweet bay (Magnolia loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), and spruce and panther populations and salt-tolerant virginiana), redbay (Persea borbonia), pine (Pinus glabra). Some species found vegetation, such as J. virginiana silici- and swamp cyrilla (Cyrilla racemiflora). in the South Carolina xeric pine/mixed . cola. The vegetation acts as a protecting If fire occurs in unflooded peat soils, it hardwoods include understory plants that buffer for the coastal strip inland of the kills seeds of C. thyoides growing there, I have observed in northern Florida. salt marshes against the high winds of but does not affect the fire-tolerant slash These include the southern magnolia hurricanes. Hydric hammocks tend to pine (Pinus elliottii). (Magnolia grandiflora), sparkleberry have soils with constant seepage from the Some of the characteristic vegetation of (Vaccinium arboreum), huckleberry Floridan aquifer, soils with down-slope river swamps includes Pinus glabra, (Gaylussacia dumosa), beauty bush seepage, or soils with high water tables. Pinus taeda, Rhapidophyllum hystrix, (Callicarpa americana), wax myrtle However, most northern hydric ham• Sabal palmetto, Sabal minor, several (Myrica cerifera), poison ivy (Toxicoden• mocks have a dense layer of imperme• hardwoods including the oaks, Quercus dron radicans), muscadine (Vitis able clay between the overlying sandy hemisphaerica, Q. nigra, Q. virginiana, rotundifolia), and various species of material and the underlying limestone. several shrubs including various llex Smilax. Water pH is acid to slightly alkaline. species, various Smilax species, poison Approximate fire frequency is once per Properties and Human Uses: ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), and grape century. Organic matter accumulation is (Vitis rotundifolia). Wood: Close grained and soft, brittle but less than one meter. easily worked, and durable. Used as Properties and Human Uses: The vegetative community of hydric Wood: Considered to have a soft wood lumber, for cabinetry, construction, and hammocks varies geographically. There is with a moderate fragrance. It is close• pencils. no one single dominant species in any of Oil: The main constituents are cedrene, grained and used for various wood• the hydriC hammocks. However, J. vir• thujospene and cedrol. Others include wares, cooperage, boat-building, interi• giniana silicicola and cabbage palm pinene, limonene, menthol, and euge• or house finishing, shingles, railroad (Sabal palmetto) are considered to be nol. Its aromatic properties protect ties, and fence posts. some of the most abundant species found. cabinetry against insects and are used Medicinal Uses: Ojibwa analgesic. Other prominent species in the by the fragrance industry. Some of its hammocks include a variety of xeric and Morphology oils have refracting properties that are hydric oaks including the live oak Habit: Small evergreen, opposite scale• useful in preparing slides for micro• (Quercus virginiana), laurel oak (Q. like leaves with flattened cross-sections scopic examination. ..' hemisphaerica), and water oak (Q. nig- of smallest twigs and clusters of small Medicinal Uses: Its long and extensive branches in one plane. The ultimate distribution in the southeast United . "ra). Other characteristic species include loblolly pine (Pinus taeda), needle palm branch lets about I mm broad. Rarely States has exposed it to several native (Rhapidophyllum hystrix), elm (Ulmus over 25 m tall and I m DBH. American groups that have reported Roots: Shallow and spreading. medicinal or ceremonial uses for this americana), various !lex species, poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), and vari• Leaves: Blue-green, glandular on back, tree. One of the most important uses ous Smilax species. Due to its geograph• turning brown in their 2nd year but per• includes the burning of its leaves dur• ical variation, J. virginiana silicicola has sisting for many seasons. ing "peyote" healing ceremonies by the a dual temperature regime. The northern Cones: Bluish or purplish at maturity, Delaware and Seminole (pers. comm. covered with waxy bloom; scales are Dr. Dennis Wiedman, June 1992). vegetation may include laurel oak (Q. hemisphaerica), sweet gum (Liquidambar thickened, each terminating in a reflexed Many native Americans, including boss or stubby protuberance; seeds; usu• Seminoles and Miccosukees, used J. styraciflua), and sweet bay (Magnolia virginiana). The southern vegetation may ally only I or 2 on each scale, are virginiana for nervousness, coughs and laterally winged. Male cones-small, colds, bad dreams, cholera and mea• include swamp chestnut oak (Q. prinus) and red maple (Acer rubrum). brown, persistent after shedding pollen sles, skin problems, rheumatism, and early in year. Seed cones-globose, bear• many other ailments. Properties and Human Uses: ing 6 peltate scales, usually remaining on Other: The distilled berry juice is used to Wood and Oils: Since it has a morpho• the tree at least until new cones are fully continued column 1, next page continued column 2, next page continued column 3. next page The PALMETTO, Spring 1993, Page 7 Juniperus virginiana Juniperus virginiana silkkola Chalnaecyparis thyoides make gin. logy and chemistry similar to J. vir• developed the following year. Morphology . giniana, its wood and oils are assumed Twigs: At first, light green tinged with Habit: Plants up to 3 m tall and some• to have similar properties and uses. red, ultimately becoming reddish-brown times branches of larger trees often with Medicinal uses: Due to its geographical to dark brown and terete (round in cross• leaves 3-sided, 3 mm long, linear, spread• distribution, the reported healing uses section); buds are minute, hidden by ing, and sharp-pointed. Trees to 35 m tall differ in quantity and purpose to mostly leaves. and 1.2 m DBH. Crown columnar to those reported by Florida Seminoles Bark: Thin, ashy gray to reddish• broadly coned to rounded. and Miccosukee. J. virginiana silicicola brown. Roots: Deep system. is used to treat sicknesses that are Flowers: Monoecious, minute, termi• Leaves: Of 2 sorts: on old trees • usually named after the objects or nal, solitary; the male has 10 to 12 dark scale-like, dark green, in 4 ranks, usually animals that cause them. Sickness brown or nearly black stamens; the fe• appressed; on young stems or vigorous categories include cow sickness, thun• male is pink, globular, with 6 thickened, shoots - often awl-shaped, opposite in der sickness, hog sickness, ghost sick• fleshy scales bearing 2 to 4 ovules each. pairs or threes, light green, sharp-pointed, ness, scalping sickness, coughs, colds, References the upper surface commonly silvery• and insanity. Several of these illnesses Barry, J.M. 1980. Natural Vegetation of South white. Both types usually turning brown have symptoms that include disorienta• Carolina. University of South Carolina Press. in their 2nd winter, but persistent for tion, head spinning, dizziness, and Clewell, A.F. 1985. Guide to the Vascular Plants headaches. Leaves of this tree are also of the Panhandle. Rorida State University several years. Press, Tallahassee. Cones: Globular, berry-like, dark blue used in protective baby "charms". It is Clewell, A.F. 1986. Natural Setting and Vegeta• at maturity, but commonly covered by a used in sorcery, magic, and in the Busk tion of the Florida Panhandle. COESAM/• light bluish-gray, waxy bloom; the scales, ceremony of green com. PDEI - 86/001, Contract No. DACWOI-77-C• 0104. U.S. Army Corp of Eng. Mobile, Ala• with a sweetish, resinous flesh; seeds, Other: It is used for live Christmas trees bama. ovoid, sharp-pointed, wingless. in central and south Florida for envi• Davis, J.H. Jr. 1967. General Map of the Natural Twigs: Often developing hard, swollen ronmental reasons. Vegetation of Florida. University of Rorida, Inst. Food and Agric. Sci., Agric. Exp. Stn. segments due to infection by a rust fun• Morphology Circ. S-178. gus. J. virginiana silicicola Duncan, W.H. and M. B. Duncan. 1988. Trees of Bark: Exfoliating in narrow strips. Similar to J. virginiana but more slen• the Southeastern United States. The University Flowers: With a single sex on each der branches. The seed cone diameters of Georgia Press. Athens and London. Harrar, E. and J.G. Harrar. 1983. Guide to South• tree (dioecious); the male has 10 or 12 for the virginiana species vary from 5 to ern Trees. Dover Publications, Inc. New York. golden-brown stamens; the female flower 7 mm long with terminal twigs from 0.75 Hillstead, H.O., J.R Bozeman, A.S. Johnson, is globular, composed of several fleshy, to 1.00 mm long, and scale leaf lengths C.W. Berisford, and J.I. Richardson. 1975. The purplish scales bearing 1 or 2 basal from 1.20 to 1.65 mm, with variety Ecology of Cumberland Island National Sea• ovules each. shore, Camden County, Ga. Georgia Mar. Sci. silicicola tending to have the smaller Center, Skidaway Island, Tech. Rep. Ser. No. sizes. Variety silicicola tends to have a 75-5. more rounded crown than virginiana, Hugo, N.R. 1990. "Eastern Red - The Cedar That Isn't." American Forests. September. which is tapered toward the top. Little, E.L. Jr. 1981. Atlas of United States Trees. Vol. 5: Florida. U.S. For. Servo Misc. The geographical distribution of the three Cupressaceae is distinct. By knowing from Pub!' No. 1361. U.S. Govt. Printing Office, Wash. D.C. which location the tree came, it would be possible to correctly guess what species it was with Mitsch, J.W. and J.G. Gosselink. 1986. Wetlands. a high degree of probability. Strong differentiating ecological factors include the geology, soil Van Nostrand Reinhold. New York. types, and hydroperiod. Of the three Cupressaceae found in Florida, only the C. thyoides and Moerman, D.E. 1986. Medicinal Plants of Native J. virginiana are usually listed in economic botany dictionaries. This may be due to the America. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Myers, RL. and J.J. Ewe!. 1991. Ecosystems of confusion in the nomenclature of the species in this family rather than a true indicator of the Florida. University of Central Rorida, Orlan• uses of J. virginiana silicicola. The most predominantly medicinal tree is the J. virginiana, do. a distinction among the Cupressaceae. Roberts, A. 1986. Geographic Variation in Juniperus silicicola and J. virginiana of the Some factors shared in common include the appearance of the Cupressaceae in Florida, Southeastern United States: Multivariate mainly in stressful soil conditions. The limiting ecological factors may not be the actual Analysis of Morphology and Terpenoids. conditions of the soil, but the surrounding shade from hardwood trees growing in the soil. Taxon. 35(1):61-75. The Cupressaceae appear only in conditions where the growth of taller pines or hardwood Sturtevant, W.C. 1955. The Mikasuki Seminole: Medical Beliefs and Practices. Unpublished trees is limited by stressful soil conditions or disturbed open areas. Masters dissertation, Yale. Of the three Cupressaceae, C. thyoides succeeds in the most diverse and productive of the ter Heide, R., J. Visser, L.M. van der Linde, and areas while the Junipers tolerate stressful hydric conditions. J. virginiana is xeric and J. F.O. van Lier. 1986. "On the Chemical Com• virginiana silicicola is hydric with moderate salt tolerance. J. virginiana silicicola is important position of Cedarwood Oil (Juniperus virginiana)." In B.M. Lawrence, B.D. for the formation of coastal hydric hammocks, which provide the function of protecting the Mookherje, and B. Willis (eds.). Flavors and inland strip along the coast from storm weathering and support bear and panther populations. Fragrances: A World Perspective. Proc. of the The vegetation surrounding the different Cupressaceae is similar and does not provide a 10th International Congress of Essential Oils, Fragrances and Ravors, Wash. D.C., U.S.A. good index for differentiation of habitats. There is, however, some differentiation, with 16-20 Nov. Elsevier Science Publishers. Am• variation increasing from south to north and as salinity decreases (usually inland). The sterdam. characteristic vegetation of all three Cupressaceae habitats includes: Quercus virginiana, Pinus Uphof, J.c. 1968. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Stechert-Hafner Service Agency, Inc. taeda, Toxicodendron radicans, Vitis rotundifolia, Smilax spp., and Sabal palmetto. Other New York. common vegetation found on at least two habitats includes: Magnolia virginiana, Magnolia Wharton, C.H., H.T. Odum, K. Ewel, M. Duever, grandiflora, Pinus glabra, !lex spp., Rhapidophyllum hystrix, and Acer rubrum. A. Lugo, R Boyt, J. Bartholomew, E. DeBellevue, S. Brown, M. Brown, and L. Jim Riach is a graduate student in Ethnobotany in the Anthropology Department at Florida Duever. 1977. F orested Wetlands of Florida • International University in Miami. Their Management and Use. Div. State Plan- ning. Tallahassee, Rorida.