Alaska Cedar

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Alaska Cedar
• Alaska Yellow-cedar
• Nootka Cypress
• Sitka Cypress
• Yellow-cedar
• Yellow-cypress

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Xanthocyparis nootkatensis
• Chamaecyparis nootkatensis
• Chamaecyparis nootkatensis f. glauca
• Chamaecyparis nootkatensis f. lutea
• Cupressus nootkatensis var. glauca
• Cupressus nootkatensis var. pendula
• Chamaecyparis nootkatensis var. pendula
• Chamaecyparis nootkatensis f. viridis-pendula
• Chamaecyparis nootkatensis var. glauca
• Chamaecyparis nootkatensis pendens
• Cupressus nootkatensis var. lutea
• Cupressus nootkatensis var. compacta
• Cupressus americana
• Cupressus nootkatensis
• Chamaecyparis excelsa
• Thujopsis cupressoides
• Thujopsis tchugatskoyae
• Thuja excelsa
• Thujopsis borealis
• Chamaecyparis nootkatensis f. compacta
• Chamaecyparis nootkatensis f. pendula

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Pinidae and order Pinales, it is classified under the family Cupressaceae. Finally, its specific taxonomic designation is within the genus Callitropsis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad geographical distribution across several northern regions of the world. In Northern Europe, its presence is documented in Norway, Great Britain, and the Faroe Islands. Moving across the Atlantic, it can also be found within the Subarctic regions of Alaska. Furthermore, the species extends its range into the western portion of North America, specifically in British Columbia. Together, these locations highlight the plant's preference for cool, northern climates.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Callitropsis nootkatensis is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle within a single year. In terms of its structural growth strategy, the species is classified as a phanerophyte, specifically exhibiting traits consistent with both phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte life forms, which indicates that its perennating buds are located well above the ground level.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Callitropsis nootkatensis is characterized by a woody growth form, functioning as a tree that reaches significant dimensions with a plant height ranging from a minimum of 20 m to a maximum of 40 m. As an independent organism, it does not function as a parasite and maintains a terrestrial habit rather than being aquatic, semiaquatic, or epiphytic. Structurally, the plant is self-supporting, categorized as a self-supporting entity rather than a liana, vine, or climbing habit.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

40 m

Plant height min:

20 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Callitropsis nootkatensis is characterized by a metabolic framework governed by the C3 photosynthetic pathway. As a C3 plant, it undergoes carbon fixation through the Calvin cycle, where the enzyme RuBisCO directly incorporates atmospheric carbon dioxide into a three-carbon compound, such as 3-phosphoglycerate, during the initial carboxylation step. This physiological mechanism dictates the plant's water-use efficiency and temperature requirements, as the lack of specialized CO2-concentrating mechanisms means it is more susceptible to photorespiration under high-temperature or low-moisture conditions. Consequently, its metabolic processes are optimized for stable, temperate environments where transpiration rates can be managed through stomatal regulation to maintain the necessary internal CO2 concentrations for efficient carbohydrate synthesis.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Callitropsis nootkatensis is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering window and specialized seed dispersal mechanisms. The plant's flowering period typically begins in March and concludes in April, though the timing can be variable. Once the reproductive cycle produces seeds, they are characterized by a very low mass, with a mean seed mass of approximately 0.004709833 g. The individual seed weight fluctuates within a narrow range, reaching a minimum of 0.00417 g and a maximum of 0.00732 g. Following maturation, the plant utilizes an anemochorous dispersal syndrome, relying on wind currents to transport its lightweight seeds to new locations.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Mar

Flowering time :

Apr

Seed mass max:

0.00732 g

Seed mass mean:

0.004709833 g

Seed mass min:

0.00417 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Callitropsis nootkatensis has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include NOOTKATONE, Nootkastatin 1, Nootkastatin 2.

NOOTKATONE

1. ACS synthetic biology
2. Cells

Nootkastatin 1

1. Journal of natural products

Nootkastatin 2

1. Journal of natural products

Preparations

Callitropsis nootkatensis has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include outerbark.

Outerbark

1. Fitoterapia