Eastern redcedar-ouge

Juniperus virginiana var. crebra Fernald & Griscom; Sabina virginiana (Linnaeus) Antoine

Trees to 30 m; crown narrowly erect (in young, fast-growing trees) to conic or occasionally round. Bark reddish brown. Branches erect, spreading, or pendulous. Scalelike leaves acute at apex. Pollen cones 3--4 mm. Seed cones globose to ovoid, 4--6(--7) mm. Seeds 2--4 mm. 2 n = 22, 33.

Upland to low woods, old fields, glades, fencerows, and river swamps; 0--1400 m; Ont., Que.; Ala., Ark., Conn., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Miss., Mo., Nebr., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., R.I., S.C., S.Dak., Tenn., Tex., Vt., Va., W.Va., Wis.

Eastern redcedar hybridizes with the related species Juniperus horizontalis (M. Palma-Otal et al. 1983) and J . scopulorum (C. W. Comer et al. 1982). Reported hybridization with J . ashei has been refuted in subsequent studies (R. P. Adams 1977).

The wood of Juniperus virginiana is used for production of eastern redcedarwood oil, fenceposts, and cedar chests.