Chamaecyparis lawsoniana
Family: Cupressaceae
Port-Orford-Cedar

The genus Chamaecyparis is composed of six species native to Japan, Taiwan, and both coasts of North America. The word chamaecyparis is derived from the Greek chamai (dwarf) and kuparissos (cypress). The term lawsoniana is in dedication to Peter Lawson and Sons, nurserymen of Edinburgh, who introduced this species into cultivation. The seeds were purchased from William Murray, who collected them in California in 1854 and whose brother (A. Murr.) named the species. The other two North American species are Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) and Alaska cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis).

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana-Adel-cypress, Californische cypres, cedar, cedro de Oregon, cedro de Puerto Orford, cedro port orford, cipres de Lawson, cipresso di California, cipresso di Lawson, cypres de Lawson, gewone cypres, ginger pine, lawson chamaecyparis, Lawson cypress, lawson cypress, Lawson's cypres, matchwood, Oregon cedar, Oregon cypress, Oregon zeder, pencil cedar, Port-Orford, Port-Orford-cedar, Port-Orford white cedar, scheinzypresse, spruce gum, white cedar, white cypress.

Distribution

Port-Orford-cedar is native to a narrow zone near the Pacific Coast from southwest Oregon (Lane County and Coos Bay) south to northwest California (Mad River and locally in the Mount Shasta area).

The Tree

Port-Orford-cedar trees reach heights of 200 feet, with diameters of 6 feet.

The Wood

General

The sapwood of Port-Orford-cedar varies from nearly white to a pale yellowish brown and is 1 to 3 inches wide. The heartwood is yellowish white to pale yellowish brown. The wood has a fine, even texture and the grain is even and straight. It has a characteristic odor (from volatile oils), described as "gingerlike" and a bitter, spicy taste. It is moderately light in weight and is stiff, strong, hard and somewhat shock resistant. It shrinks slightly when dried, with little tendency to warp. It works well with tools, has a good electrical resistance and is moderately resistant to acids. The heartwood is highly resistant to decay. It holds paint and polishes well. It weathers to a light gray, with a silvery sheen, without checks.

Mechanical Properties (2-inch standard)

				Compression
	Specific gravity	MOE x10^6 lbf/in^2	MOR lbf/in^2	Parallel lbf/in^2	Perpendicular lbf/in^2	WML^a in-lbf/in^3	Hardness lbf	Shear lbf/in^2
Green	0.39	1.30	6,600	3,140	300	7.4	380	840
Dry	0.43	1.70	12,700	6,250	720	9.1	720	1,370
^aWML = Work to maximum load. Reference (12).

Drying and Shrinkage

Type of shrinkage	Percentage of shrinkage (green to final moisture content)
	0% MC	6% MC	20% MC
Tangential	6.9	5.5	2.3
Radial	4.6	3.7	1.5
Volumetric	10.1	8.1	3.4
References: 0% MC (12), 6% and 20% MC (11).

Kiln Drying Schedules^a

Conventional temperature/moisture content-controlled schedules^a
Condition	4/4, 5/4 stock	6/4 stock	8/4 stock	10/4 stock	12/4 stock	British schedule 4/4 stock
Standard	T11-B4	NA	T10-B3	NA	NA	J
^aReference (2,10,5).

Conventional temperature/time-controlled schedules^a
	Lower grades			Upper grades
Condition	4/4, 5/4 stock	6/4 stock	8/4 stock	4/4, 5/4 stock	6/4 stock	8/4 stock	12/4, 16/4 stock
Standard	290	NA	288	290	296	296	NA
^aReferences (2,10).

High temperature^a
Condition	4/4, 5/4 stock	6/4 stock	8/4 stock	Other products
Standard	NA	NA	NA	NA

Working Properties: Port-Orford-cedar works well with tools.

Durability: It is rated as resistant or very resistant to heartwood decay (12).

Preservation: The heartwood is moderately resistant to preservative treatment, while the sapwood is permeable (5).

Uses: Arrow shafts, storage battery separators, venetian blind slats, sashes, doors, interior finish millwork, mothproof linings for boxes and closets, boats, matches, general construction, water tanks, bridges, dock planking, railroad ties and mine timbers.

Toxicity: Continual inhalation of the volatile oil in this wood can cause kidney problems (diuresis). May also cause allergic bronchial asthma and/or rhinitis. (4,6,7&14)

Additional Reading and References Cited (in parentheses)

1. Betts, H. S. Port Orford White-Cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana). Washington, DC, USA: USDA Forest Service, USGPO 1951-O-940474; 1945.

2. Boone, R. S.; Kozlik, C. J.; Bois, P. J., and Wengert, E. M. Dry kiln schedules for commercial woods - temperate and tropical. Madison, WI: USDA Forest Service, FPL-GTR-57; 1988.

3. Haslett, A. N. Properties and utilization of exotic speciality timbers grown in New Zealand. Part III: Cypresses. Rotorua, New Zealand: Forest Research Institute, New Zealand Forest Service, FRI Bulletin No. 119.; 1986.

4. Hausen, B. M. Woods injurious to human health. A manual. New York, NY: Walter de Gruyter; 1981.

5. Henderson, F. Y. A handbook of softwoods. London: HMSO; 1977.

6. Mitchell, J. and Rook, A. Botanical dermatology: plants and plant products injurious to the skin. Vancouver, BC: Greenglass Ltd.; 1979.

7. Ohmann, J. L. Port-Orford-Cedar [Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (A. Murr.) Parl.]. Washington, DC, USA.: USDA Forest Service, FS-228.; 1984.

8. Port Orford Cedar Products Company. Port Orford Cedar: its properties and uses. Portland, Oregon: The Timberman; 1929.

9. Pratt, M. B. Shade and ornamental trees of California. California State Board of Forestry; 1922.

10. Simpson, W. T. Dry kiln operator's manual. Madison, WI: USDA Forest Service, FPL Ag. Handbook No. 188; 1991.

11. Summitt, R. and Sliker, A. CRC handbook of materials science. Vol. 4. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press, Inc.; 1980.

12. USDA. Wood handbook: wood as an engineering material. Madison, WI: USDA Forest Service, FPL Ag. Handbook No. 72; 1974.

13. USDA Forest Service. Virgin Port Orford cedar tract reserved as "Natural Area.". USDA Forest Service Bulletin. 1938; 22(1):8.

14. Woods, B. and Calnan, C. D. Toxic woods. British Journal of Dermatology. 1976; 95(13):1-97.

15. Zobel, D. B. Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (A. Murr.) Parl. Port-Orford-Cedar. in: Burns, R. M. and Honkala, B. H., tech. coords. Silvics of North America. Volume 1, Conifers. Washington, DC: USDA Forest Service; 1990; pp. 88-96.