1Up Info - A Portal with a Difference

1Up Travel - A Travel Portal with a Difference.    
1Up Info
   

Earth & EnvironmentHistoryLiterature & ArtsHealth & MedicinePeoplePlacesPlants & Animals  • Philosophy & Religion  • Science & TechnologySocial Science & LawSports & Everyday Life Wildlife, Animals, & PlantsCountry Study Encyclopedia A -Z
North America Gazetteer


You are here >1Up Info > Wildlife, Animals, and Plants > Plant Species > Shrub > Species: Juniperus virginiana | Eastern Redcedar
 

Wildlife, Animals, and Plants

 


Wildlife, Animals, and Plants

 

Wildlife Species

  Amphibians

  Birds

  Mammals

  Reptiles

 

Kuchler

 

Plants

  Bryophyte

  Cactus

  Fern or Fern Ally

  Forb

  Graminoid

  Lichen

  Shrub

  Tree

  Vine


VALUE AND USE

SPECIES: Juniperus virginiana | Eastern Redcedar
WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : The wood of eastern redcedar is attractive, durable, fine textured, and easily worked [54,88]. It is commonly used to make fenceposts, poles, and interior paneling [46,61]. The fragrant, richly colored, purplish-red wood is well suited for furniture, woodenware, pencils, shavings, and various novelty products [17,61,88]. The wood is purported to repel moths and is used to make cedar chests and closet or cupboard liners [88]. Eastern redcedar is not generally considered an important commercial timber species [54]. However, markets have been expanding in recent years, and some logs are now exported to Japan and Korea [43]. Eastern redcedar makes good kindling but has only fair value as firewood [16]. It is occasionally used as fuel or made into charcoal [46]. IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : Eastern redcedar provides important food and cover for many wildlife species. Overall value to songbirds is described as good, whereas food and cover value for upland game birds and game mammals is fair [16]. Browse: Eastern redcedar is browsed by deer to some extent but is not a preferred food. The foliage can be an important emergency food source for deer during times of stress. Use may be heavy during extreme food shortages [54]. In a Connecticut nursery, deer browsed approximately 21.7 percent of all eastern redcedars [20]. Mice and rabbits occasionally feed on seedlings [54]. Cattle do not browse eastern redcedar [88]. Fruit: Many species of birds and mammals feed on the highly palatable berrylike cones while they are still on the trees and after the fruit has fallen to the ground [11]. Large numbers of frugivorous birds congregate in eastern redcedar thickets during the winter [81]. Cedar glades serve as excellent winter habitat for the American robin [91]. In many areas, this fruit is most valuable during the fall and winter. However, some birds, such as the American robin, continue to feed on the fruit until as late as June 21 [70]. The following is a partial list of birds and mammals that eat the fruit of eastern redcedar: cedar waxwing, northern bobwhite, ring-necked pheasant, ruffed grouse, sharp-tailed grouse, wild turkey, American robin, starling, mourning dove, northern mockingbird, willow flycatcher, purple finch, common crow, northern flicker, myrtle warbler, downy woodpecker, evening grosbeak, pine grosbeak, hermit thrush, fox sparrow, yellow-bellied sapsucker, eastern bluebird, kingbird, rabbits, foxes, skunks, opossum, and coyote [6,11,54,59,70,87]. PALATABILITY : Eastern redcedar browse is evidently somewhat palatable to deer in certain locations but is generally not preferred. Conifers such as eastern redcedar contain terpenes, resins, and volatile oils which decrease palatability to browsers [8]. Palatability may vary with the individual tree [72]. NUTRITIONAL VALUE : Browse: Ovulate individuals reportedly have higher concentrations of potassium and calcium than do staminate individuals [88]. Fruit: The fruit of eastern redcedar is relatively high in crude fat, moderate in calcium, and very high in total carbohydrates [54]. Fruit contains an estimated 106.75 J of energy per fruit and 229.74 J seed energy per fruit [81]. Nutrient content is as follows [70,81]: protein 4 to 6 percent sugar 10 to 30 percent starch and cellulose 12 to 20 percent water per fruit .0140 g COVER VALUE : Eastern redcedar provides good cover for a wide variety of birds and mammals [37,54]. It offers good nesting sites and year-round roosts for many species of birds [54]. The American robin, chipping sparrow, song sparrow, and northern mockingbird nest in eastern redcedar [59]. In Kentucky and presumably elsewhere, eastern redcedars are preferred roosting sites for the eastern screech owl [9]. The myrtle warbler, slate-colored junco, and many species of sparrows also roost in the dense foliage [59]. In many parts of the Great Plains, the dense cover of eastern redcedar windbreaks is particularly important for the ring-necked pheasant [79]. Thickets offer good escape cover for deer [54]. VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : Eastern redcedar is well suited to a variety of rehabilitation projects. Its fibrous root system can help prevent soil erosion, and it is capable of growing on many harsh droughty sites [54]. It is of particular value in protecting fragile, exposed watersheds [91]. Eastern redcedar has been successfully planted onto strip-mine spoils in Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Ohio, and elsewhere [17,55,89]. Particularly good growth and survival (85 percent) have been reported on calcareous coal mine spoils [55]. Naturally established eastern redcedar grows as a codominant on certain abandoned lead pit mines of southwestern Wisconsin, suggesting that the species has potential for reclamation of mine wastes with high soil levels of lead and zinc [12]. Eastern redcedar has been successfully transplanted onto borrow pits [19]; plants which developed from natural seed sources dominated a 47-year-old gravel pit [63]. Eastern redcedar can be readily propagated from seed. Cleaned seed averages approximately 43,600 per pound (96,120/kg) [46] and can be sown directly by hand or machine [54]. Stratified seed can be sown in spring, or untreated seed can be sown in the fall and then mulched [54]. Redcedar reportedly transplants readily [37] and can also be propagated by grafting, layering, and from cuttings [54]. OTHER USES AND VALUES : Eastern redcedar is a valuable ornamental [22] and has been cultivated since 1664 [46]. It is widely used in landscaping [88] and makes particularly attractive hedges and screens [67]. Many cultivars are now available, including green-leaved, glaucous-leaved, and variegated-leaved trees, and many types of shrubs [88]. Heat- and drought-tolerant cultivars such as 'Skyrocket' have also been developed [47]. Although eastern redcedar is well suited to urban plantings, it can become weedy and spread to adjacent agricultural land in some parts of Virginia and the East [42]. Eastern redcedar is preferred for shelterbelt or windbreak plantings in many parts of the Great Plains [54,79]. It provides protection from wind and serves as a living snow fence [79]. In some areas, particularly in the South, eastern redcedar is used for Christmas trees [54,88]. The fruits and foliage of many junipers contain aromatic oils which are used in medicine and in the manufacture of alcohol [46]. Eastern redcedar is a source of "cedarwood oil" which is used in a variety of fragrance compounds [54]. These compounds are used in making soaps, inhalants, liniments, insecticides, polishes, perfumes, and cosmetics [7,88]. MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : Forage production: In many areas, eastern redcedar has been encroaching into rangeland and lowering forage production [95]. In Oklahoma, this encroachment is described as an "acute problem" affecting at least 3.7 million acres (1.5 million ha) of rangeland [27]. Consequently, management efforts in many parts of eastern redcedar's range, particularly at the eastern margin of the Great Plains, have focused on developing ways of eliminating or reducing this woody invader. Elsewhere, researchers are focusing on means of developing this species for its wood product value. Silviculture: On some harsh sites with shallow soil, eastern redcedar may be the only valuable timber tree present and is favored in timber management [88]. This species grows slowly and requires long rotations to produce sawlogs [54]. Approximately 40 to 60 years are required for sawtimber, and 20 to 30 years for posts. However, many uses of eastern redcedar do not require large logs and it may be possible to shorten rotations or conduct intermediate harvesting [54]. Shelterbelt plantings: Eastern redcedar is tolerant of temperature extremes and harsh conditions and is well suited for use in shelterbelt plantings [54]. In many portions of the Great Plains, shelterbelts are now declining [98], but decadent stands can be rejuvenated by underplanting eastern redcedar [33]. Grazing: Eastern redcedar commonly invades grazed hill prairie [64]. Although livestock may trample plants and damage roots [54], eastern redcedar generally increases in response to overgrazing [88]. Overgrazing aids the spread of eastern redcedar by reducing fuels and thus contributing to reduced fire intensity [41]. In some areas, unique remnant hill prairies are threatened by increases in eastern redcedar [11]. Chemical control: Eastern redcedar is resistant to herbicides [83,85,102]. Herbicides such as picloram have been used but are relatively ineffective on trees over 15 feet (4.5 m) tall or where excessive litter interferes with absorption [95]. Response to various chemicals has been examined in detail [27,83,85,95,102]. Mechanical treatment: Mechanical treatments can be used to reduce eastern redcedar. However, these methods are generally uneconomical and unsuited for areas with thin, fragile soil or rough terrain [95]. Damage: Eastern redcedar is tolerant of drought, although drought-caused mortality can occur [2,54]. It is moderately resistant to ice damage [54] but can be killed by excessive soil moisture [15]. Insects and disease: Eastern redcedar is susceptible to several diseases and insect infestations [54,76]. It serves as an alternate host for cedar-apple rust which can create problems for apple growers [54]. Susceptibility to various diseases varies according to individual genetic make-up [88]. Environmental considerations: Eastern redcedar is resistant to air pollution and can survive on sites which are too harsh for many other conifers [88].

Related categories for Species: Juniperus virginiana | Eastern Redcedar

Send this page to a friend
Print this Page

Content on this web site is provided for informational purposes only. We accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by any person resulting from information published on this site. We encourage you to verify any critical information with the relevant authorities.

Information Courtesy: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory. Fire Effects Information System

About Us | Contact Us | Terms of Use | Privacy | Links Directory
Link to 1Up Info | Add 1Up Info Search to your site

1Up Info All Rights reserved. Site best viewed in 800 x 600 resolution.