December 19th, 2006
upon a rock
On Saturday, while we were measuring White Oaks at Foley Mountain, I noticed this Eastern Red Cedar (Juniperus virginiana) growing atop a large fractured boulder on the exposed ridge. I’m always fascinated by trees that manage to survive by sending their roots into fissures atop a large boulder, or in the side of a rocky cliff. I walked around this tree and found that it had sent three thick, rope-like roots into cracks on each side of the rock. It was definitely well achored in place and didn’t look like it could be blown away any time soon.
Despite the name, the Eastern Red Cedar is actually a Juniper. The wood is very aromatic and is used to line closets and wardrobes. The trees produce hard blue berries. On Saturday, there were many single and clusters of berries scattered on the ground along the ridge trails where many Red Cedar grow.
A little trivia regarding Red Cedars. In Native Trees of Canada, R.C. Hosie writes:
French settlers called this tree baton rouge, meaning “red stick”. Finding the same tree in Louisiana, they applied the name to the state capital.
December 20th, 2006 at 5:42 am
That’s a good one Bev, I’ve seen a lot of trees growing out of rock but that one takes some beating. Two years ago my neighbour had a marvellous tomato bush that fruited heavily, needed no watering, and had no diseases. Where was it growing? Out of a narrow crack in a concrete path!
December 20th, 2006 at 12:38 pm
Ah, the tenacity of life – a great image for this time of year wherein we are challenged to hang on – waitng for the return of light.
December 20th, 2006 at 1:06 pm
Wow, Bev, that is lovely! There’s nothing like a tree on a rock. BTW, the urge to point out that Eastern Redcedars are not really cedars, they’re junipers, has become a most amusing cliche noted by the likes of Pablo and FC, and one that I always enjoy indulging in. We have tons of them – I had no idea they grew so far north.
December 20th, 2006 at 1:19 pm
A tree growing on a rock is a wonderful demonstration of where most of the mass of a plant comes from – out of the air.
I love cedars (OK, junipers) but have few at our little place. I used to burn some of them when I thinned the growth behind my house and that smoke was very nice.
December 22nd, 2006 at 1:50 pm
Duncan – That was one of the better tree-on-a-rock examples that I’ve seen, although I do have one from Nova Scotia that I should post sometime. It was quite extraordinary. Neat about that tomato plant. It’s interesting how some plants can thrive in the most hostile of locations.
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Cathy – Yes, indeed. I was thinking of how the tree seems to represent the tenacity of all life that exists on the rougher edges of nature.
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Wayne – Agreed.. I love seeing trees growing out of rock — seems almost impossible. We have Eastern Red Cedar up here, but I can’t really say they are widespread throughout our region. We see them to the west of us up on the Shield, but I do believe we’re probably close to the northern extent of their range.
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Mark – I love the scent of cedar smoke. I think there’s a kind of cedar that is used for making incense — not sure of the species though.