Callitropsis nootkatensis (D. Don) Oerst. ex D.P. Little
yellow-cedar
Cupressaceae (Cypress family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Kevin Newell     (Photo ID #1346)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Callitropsis nootkatensis
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
Tree, usually 20-40 m tall when mature; branches and branchlets droop strongly; bark ridged and fissured, not tearing off in long thin strips; wood aromatic (potato-like smell); growing "tip" (leader) drooping.
Leaves:
Scalelike, opposite, somewhat overlapping, close to stem, with sharp, rigid tip; bluish green.
Cones:
Seed cones like a round, bumpy light green "berry" when immature, brown when ripe, less than 10 mm long, glaucous; pollen cones about 4 mm long.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Callitropsis nootkatensis

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
537 0 2050
Slope Gradient (%)
26 0 350

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

210 0 360
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
4 0 8
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
C
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
1565
Modal BEC Zone Class
CWH

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

CMA(8), CWH(1127), ESSF(12), IDF(1), MH(411), MS(1)

Habitat and Range

Habitat/Range: Wet to mesic slopes and bogs in the lowland, montane and subalpine zones; common in and W of the Coast-Cascade Mountains, rare in SE BC; N to SE AK and S to N CA.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Xanthocyparis nootkatensis (D. Don) D.P. Little