This is the first cache in my series about Virginia trees. What better place to start than with a tree that is named Juniperus virginiana? This is one of the most common trees in Northern Virginia. It is typically the first tree to take over abandoned pasture land and forms the border of much of the W&OD trail.
Very often I will see in cache descriptions, and in the logs, mention of a "Pine" tree. But when I arrive at the cache site I find what turns out to be an Eastern Redcedar, otherwise known as a Juniper. The only thing that this plant has in common with a Pine is that they are both evergreens. Here is the official description of an Eastern Redcedar:
Mature Size: 40 to 60 feet in height and 1 to 2 feet in trunk diameter.
Form: Dense, compact, column-like crown with short, slender branches.
Habitat: Found on a wide variety of soils, from acidic wetland edges to dry, rocky ridges; thrives on barren soils where few other trees are found.
Needles: Fragrant; mature needles 1/16 inch long, shiny, dark green and scale-like, pressed close to form 4-sided twigs; young needles up to 3/8 inch long, pointed and prickly.
Flowers: Males and females on separate trees; males small, yellow-brown, in large clusters; females light blue-green.
Cones: On female trees only, round, fleshy and berrylike, ¼ to 1/3 inch across; green turning blue when ripe, with a grayish-white, waxy covering.
Bark: Light reddish-brown, thin, peeling and fibrous.
Twigs: Scaly, green for several years, later turning brown.
Values and uses: Redcedar wood is fragrant, soft, strong and evenly textured. The red heartwood and white sapwood create striking effects when the wood is finished. The heartwood is very resistant to decay and can be used for fence posts, poles, cabinets and rustic furniture. Because its natural oils repel insects, it is also used for chests, closet linings and pet bedding. It was once used for pencils, although incense-cedar, a western species, is now used instead. The "berries" give gin its characteristic flavor. They are also a favorite food of many birds, from waxwings to bobwhite quail. Redcedar's dense foliage provides excellent roosting and nesting cover for birds. Deer use its foliage as an emergency winter food source. Redcedar is good for protecting soils from erosion. It is also planted for Christmas trees.
Interesting Fact: Redcedar can cause problems when planted near apple orchards. The tree is the alternate host for cedar-apple rust, a fungus which causes spots on apple leaves and fruit.