White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis)
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- 1. Description
- 1.1 Obtainment
- 1.2 Uses
- 2. More
- 3. 'Souls
1. Description
This evergreen coniferous tree is not related to the Cedrus genus. A small tree, growing to a height of 10–20 metres (33–66 ft). The tree is often stunted or prostrate. The furrowed bark is red-brown, and peels in narrow strips. It prefers wet forests, being particularly abundant in coniferous swamps where other larger and faster-growing trees cannot compete successfully.
1.1 Obtainment
It is common, though not found throughout Nova Scotia -- Northern Tides territories are most likely to contain this tree.
1.2 Uses
- Northern white cedar is commercially used for rustic fencing and posts, lumber, poles, shingles and in the construction of log cabins,[6] White cedar is the preferred wood for the structural elements, such as ribs and planking, of birchbark canoes and the planking of wooden canoes.
- The essential oil within the plant has been used for cleansers, disinfectants, hair preparations, insecticides, liniment, room sprays, and soft soaps. There are some reports that the Ojibwa made a soup from the inner bark of the soft twigs. Others have used the twigs to make teas to relieve constipation and headache.
- In the 19th century Thuja was in common use as an externally applied tincture or ointment for the treatment of warts, ringworm and thrush.
2. More
3. 'Souls
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