Cypress family, Cupressaceae
Origin: the east of North America
Habitat in the original area: wet, muddy soils
Habitus: An evergreen shrub or tree up to 20 metres tall. The bark is reddish-brown and peels off in thin strips. The crown is conical and densely branched.
Leaf: Small scale-like leaves are dull on the face and do not have a white pattern on the back. The leaves fit tightly on the compressed twig and are smaller on the sides of the twigs.
Bloom, fruit: Male cones are yellow, female ones are pink. Cones get woody. They consist of 3–5 pairs of seed scales which have a small hook-like growth on the surface. The seeds are flattened and have a winged, membranous rim cut out at the top.
Interesting fact: It was a favourite tree of sailors. They learned from the natives that the leaves of this tree cure scurvy.
