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97-520: Thuja plicata is a large evergreen coniferous tree in the family Cupressaceae , native to the Pacific Northwest of North America. Its common name is western redcedar in the U.S. or western red cedar in the UK, and it is also called pacific red cedar , giant arborvitae , western arborvitae , just cedar , giant cedar , or shinglewood . It is not a true cedar of the genus Cedrus . T. plicata

194-426: A runny nose , as well as allergic conjunctivitis , which includes watering and itchy eyes. Also an initial tickle on the roof of the mouth or in the back of the throat may be experienced. Also, depending on the season, the symptoms may be more severe and people may experience coughing , wheezing , and irritability. A few people even become depressed, lose their appetite , or have problems sleeping. Moreover, since

291-445: A cold include: Among seasonal allergies, there are some allergens that fuse together and produce a new type of allergy. For instance, grass pollen allergens cross-react with food allergy proteins in vegetables such as onion, lettuce, carrots, celery, and corn. Besides, the cousins of birch pollen allergens, like apples, grapes, peaches, celery, and apricots, produce severe itching in the ears and throat. The cypress pollen allergy brings

388-552: A cold season or dry season, evergreen plants are usually an adaptation of low nutrient levels. Additionally, they usually have hard leaves and have an excellent water economy due to scarce resources in the area in which they reside. The excellent water economy within the evergreen species is due to high abundance when compared to deciduous species. Whereas deciduous trees lose nutrients whenever they lose their leaves. In warmer areas, species such as some pines and cypresses grow on poor soils and disturbed ground. In Rhododendron ,

485-425: A cross reactivity between diverse species like olive, privet, ash and Russian olive tree pollen allergens. In some rural areas, there is another form of seasonal grass allergy, combining airborne particles of pollen mixed with mold. Recent research has suggested that humans might develop allergies as a defense to fight off parasites. According to Yale University Immunologist Ruslan Medzhitov , protease allergens cleave

582-590: A decrease in the incidence of cedar leaf blight among western redcedars in coastal British Columbia by late 21st century as a result of warmer, drier summers due to climate change . The authors of the study conceded that they were unable to incorporate the impacts of warmer winter temperatures into their model because research on the topic was lacking at the time of their study. They hypothesized that warmer winter temperatures could result in increased incidence of cedar leaf blight and cautioned that management decisions should take this uncertainty into account. Thuja plicata

679-472: A defense against parasitic infections . However, some individuals may respond to many common environmental antigens. This hereditary predisposition is called atopy . In atopic individuals, non-parasitic antigens stimulate inappropriate IgE production, leading to type I hypersensitivity. Sensitivities vary widely from one person (or from one animal) to another. A very broad range of substances can be allergens to sensitive individuals. Allergens can be found in

776-556: A few months to several decades (over 30 years in the Great Basin bristlecone pine ). Japanese umbrella pine is unique in that it has its own family of which it is the only species. Evergreen and deciduous species vary in a range of morphological and physiological characters. Generally, broad-leaved evergreen species have thicker leaves than deciduous species, with a larger volume of parenchyma and air spaces per unit leaf area. They have larger leaf biomass per unit leaf area, and hence

873-475: A genus with many broadleaf evergreens, several species grow in mature forests but are usually found on highly acidic soil where the nutrients are less available to plants. In taiga or boreal forests , it is too cold for the organic matter in the soil to decay rapidly, so the nutrients in the soil are less easily available to plants, thus favoring evergreens. In temperate climates, evergreens can reinforce their own survival; evergreen leaf and needle litter has

970-492: A harder wood such as hemlock . A variety of hand mauls , wedges, chisels, and knives are also used. Excavations done at Ozette, Washington , turned up iron tools nearly 800 years old, far before European contact. When James Cook passed the area, he observed that almost all tools were made of iron. There has been speculation on the origin of these iron tools. Some theories include shipwrecks from East Asia or possible contact with iron-using cultures from Siberia , as hinted in

1067-469: A higher carbon-nitrogen ratio than deciduous leaf litter , contributing to a higher soil acidity and lower soil nitrogen content. This is the case with Mediterranean evergreen seedlings, which have unique C and N storages that allow stored resources to determine fast growth within the species, limiting competition and bolstering survival. These conditions favor the growth of more evergreens and make it more difficult for deciduous plants to persist. In addition,

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1164-739: A line of stakes. Redcedar wood is used to make huge monoxyla canoes in which the men went out to high sea to harpoon whales and conduct trade. One of those canoes, a 12-metre (38 ft) craft dug out about a century ago, was bought in 1901 by Captain John Voss , an adventurer. He gave her the name of Tilikum ('Relative' in Chinook jargon), rigged her, and led her in a hectic three-year voyage from British Columbia to London . Redcedar branches are very flexible and have good tensile strength. They were stripped and used as strong cords for fishing line, nets, rope cores, twine, and other purposes where bark cord

1261-525: A lower specific leaf area . Construction costs do not differ between the groups. Evergreens have generally a larger fraction of total plant biomass present as leaves (LMF), but they often have a lower rate of photosynthesis. Deciduous trees shed their leaves usually as an adaptation to a cold or dry/wet season. Evergreen trees also lose leaves, but each tree loses its leaves gradually and not all at once. Most tropical rainforest plants are considered to be evergreens, replacing their leaves gradually throughout

1358-508: A major disturbance occurs. It is considered to have low to moderate fire resistance, as its thin bark, shallow roots, low dense branching habit and flammable foliage confer little protection. Smaller trees are commonly killed by fire, but larger specimens often survive due to their size if they are not completely girdled . The intervals between fires within western redcedar stands tend to be very long, from 50 up to 350 years or more. Western redcedar shows susceptibility of varying degrees to

1455-432: A major source of airborne allergens. The basidospore family include mushrooms, rusts, smuts, brackets, and puffballs . The airborne spores from mushrooms reach levels comparable to those of mold and pollens. The levels of mushroom respiratory allergy are as high as 30 percent of those with allergic disorder, but it is believed to be less than 1 percent of food allergies. Heavy rainfall (which increases fungal spore release)

1552-406: A physical exam, doctors can make a diagnosis to identify if the patient has a seasonal allergy. After performing the diagnosis, the doctor is able to tell the main cause of the allergic reaction and recommend the treatment to follow. 2 tests have to be done in order to determine the cause: a blood test and a skin test. Allergists do skin tests in one of two ways: either dropping some purified liquid of

1649-447: A phytochemical called thujaplicin which has been credited with granting the species its natural resistance to fungal attacks. Additional research has shown that western redcedar responds to A. ostoye infection by producing necrophylactic periderms and resin ducts near infection sites. Because of these natural defenses, it has been suggested that western redcedar may serve as a suitable alternative to other conifers when regenerating

1746-450: A revival of cedar weaving in some communities, and along with it, new forms of cedar bark products. For example, in some recent weddings cedar roses are used to decorate the tables. The soft red-brown timber has a tight, straight grain and few knots. It is valued for its distinct appearance, aroma, and its high natural resistance to decay, being extensively used for outdoor construction in the form of posts, decking, shingles , and siding. It

1843-483: A single glacial refugium near the south of the current distribution, with subsequent expansion northward and inland since the last glacial maximum. Refugial populations may have undergone repeated population bottlenecks during the glacial maxima of the Pleistocene . Pollen cores indicate that Thuja plicata only became common in southern coastal British Columbia starting at approximately 6,000 YBP . This coincides with

1940-738: A site affected by these pathogens. Western redcedar foliage can become infected by the ascomycete fungus Didymascella thujina , which causes cedar leaf blight. The fungus causes leaves to turn brown and does not spread between adjacent leaves through hyphae . It is present throughout the native range of western redcedar, but reproduces best when western redcedar foliage is wet for long periods of time, with minimal wind exposure. Significant variation in resistance to cedar leaf blight exists between populations of Thuja plicata ; trees sourced from coastal populations exhibit higher resistance than trees from interior populations. Additional variation also occurs within populations. A study published in 2013 projected

2037-991: A substrate on which western redcedar does not exhibit elevated mortality rates. Western redcedar is less cold-tolerant than many conifer species that it shares its range with and is vulnerable to frost damage in late spring and early fall. Its northern range limit in Southeast Alaska and its upper elevational limits on Vancouver Island are controlled by temperature. In Southeast Alaska, it is absent from areas with mean summer temperatures less than 11 °C (52 °F). It does not grow in areas of coastal British Columbia with minimum temperatures of less than −30 °C (−22 °F), although some interior populations experience colder temperatures. It has been introduced to other temperate zones, including further north in Alaska, western Europe , Australia (at least as far north as Sydney ), New Zealand , and higher elevations of Hawaii . The species

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2134-1186: A thousand years, with the oldest verified aged 1,460. The foliage forms flat sprays with scale-like leaves in opposite pairs, with successive pairs at 90 degrees to each other. The foliage sprays are green above and green marked with whitish stomatal bands below; they emit a strong aroma reminiscent of pineapple when crushed. The individual leaves are 1 to 4 millimetres ( 1 ⁄ 32 to 5 ⁄ 32  in) long and 1 to 2 mm ( 1 ⁄ 32 to 3 ⁄ 32  in) broad on most foliage sprays but up to 12 mm ( 1 ⁄ 2  in) long on strong-growing lead shoots. The foliage of individual branchlets turns orange-brown before falling off in autumn. Branches growing in full sunlight produce denser foliage with more overlap, while shaded branches grow more horizontally, with less self-overlap. The cones are slender, 10 to 18 mm ( 3 ⁄ 8 to 11 ⁄ 16  in) long, and 4 to 5 mm ( 5 ⁄ 32 to 3 ⁄ 16  in) broad, with 8 to 12 (rarely 14) thin, overlapping scales. They are green to yellow-green, ripening brown in fall about six months after pollination, and open at maturity to shed

2231-523: A transition from the warmer, drier climate of the early Holocene to a cooler, wetter climate. The species arrived later in the Canadian Rockies , as recently as 4,000–5,000 YBP. Pollen Assemblages at Seeley Lake , on the eastern slope of the Coast Mountains east of Haida Gwaii , indicate that western redcedar became common there at approximately 2,200 YBP. The species name plicata derives from

2328-617: A variety of sources, such as dust mite excretion, pollen , pet dander , or even royal jelly . Food allergies are not as common as food sensitivity , but some foods such as peanuts (a legume ), nuts , seafood and shellfish are the cause of serious allergies in many people. The United States Food and Drug Administration recognizes nine foods as major food allergens: peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, milk, shellfish, fish, wheat, soy, and most recently sesame, as well as sulfites (chemical-based, often found in flavors and colors in foods) at 10ppm and over. In other countries, due to differences in

2425-624: Is a high count of eosinophils, an allergic condition might be present. Another laboratory test is the blood test for IgE (immunoglobulin production), such as the radioallergosorbent test (RAST) or the more recent enzyme allergosorbent tests (EAST), implemented to detect high levels of allergen-specific IgE in response to particular allergens. Although blood tests are less accurate than the skin tests, they can be performed on patients unable to undergo skin testing. Imaging tests can be useful to detect sinusitis in people who have chronic rhinitis, and they can work when other test results are ambiguous. There

2522-478: Is a host to several destructive insect species such as the western cedar borer , cedar bark beetle , redcedar cone midge , and conifer seedling weevils . Redcedar cone midge ( Mayetiola thujae ) larvae hatch from eggs laid between the scales of immature cones, then feed on the cone scales and seeds. The application of insecticides has been used as a control measure. "Uncommonly hot, dry weather" in coastal Washington State, beginning in 2015, has been attributed as

2619-533: Is a major component of forests surrounding Lake McDonald . It is present east of the continental divide in the park, growing in a handful of small, isolated stands. It is usually found from sea level to elevations of 1,100 m (3,600 ft), but grows at altitudes of up to 2,290 m (7,510 ft) at Crater Lake in Oregon and 1,500 m (4,900 ft) in Idaho. Western redcedar grows on many types of soils. It

2716-501: Is a predominant air-borne allergen affecting up to 22 percent of patients with respiratory allergies. Some fungal air-borne allergens such as Coprinus comatus are associated with worsening of eczematous skin lesions. Children who are born during autumn months (during fungal spore season) are more likely to develop asthmatic symptoms later in life. Treatment includes over-the-counter medications , antihistamines , nasal decongestants , allergy shots , and alternative medicine . In

2813-508: Is also a newer second generation of antihistamines that are generally classified as the " non-sedating antihistamines " or anti-drowsy, which include cetirizine , loratadine , and fexofenadine . An example of nasal decongestants is pseudoephedrine and its side-effects include insomnia , restlessness , and difficulty urinating. Some other nasal sprays are available by prescription, including Azelastine and Ipratropium . Some of their side-effects include drowsiness. For eye symptoms, it

2910-519: Is also associated with a long tradition of curing and cooking fish over the open fire. Roots and bark are used for baskets, bowls, ropes, clothing, blankets, and rings. A huge number of archaeological finds point to the continuous use of redcedar wood in native societies. Woodworking tools dating between 8,000 and 5,000 years ago, such as carved antlers, were discovered in shell middens at the Glenrose site, near Vancouver , British Columbia. In Yuquot , on

3007-505: Is also nasal endoscopy, wherein a tube is inserted through the nose with a small camera to view the passageways and examine any irregularities in the nose structure. Endoscopy can be used for some cases of chronic or unresponsive seasonal rhinitis. In 1952 basidiospores were described as being possible airborne allergens and were linked to asthma in 1969. Basidiospores are the dominant airborne fungal allergens. Fungal allergies are associated with seasonal asthma. They are considered to be

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3104-415: Is also widely used throughout Europe and America for making beehive components. Evergreen There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, including trees , shrubs , and vines. Evergreens include: The Latin binomial term sempervirens , meaning "always green", refers to the evergreen nature of the plant, for instance: The longevity of individual leaves in evergreen plants varies from

3201-696: Is associated with increased hospital admissions of children with asthma. A study in New Zealand found that 22 percent of patients with respiratory allergic disorders tested positive for basidiospores allergies. Mushroom spore allergies can cause either immediate allergic symptomatology or delayed allergic reactions. Those with asthma are more likely to have immediate allergic reactions and those with allergic rhinitis are more likely to have delayed allergic responses. A study found that 27 percent of patients were allergic to basidiomycete mycelia extracts and 32 percent were allergic to basidiospore extracts, thus demonstrating

3298-506: Is available. Western redcedar foliage is more palatable for browsing herbivores than the commonly associated Sitka spruce and western hemlock. Browsing by introduced Sitka black-tailed deer is a major source of mortality for seedlings and saplings in old-growth forests on Haida Gwaii, where the deer lack natural predators. The presence of deer there has been linked to a decline in western redcedar recruitment . The seeds may be eaten by birds and rodents such as deer mice , but are apparently not

3395-475: Is bad news for millions of asthmatics in the United States whose asthma attacks are triggered by seasonal allergies. Indeed, seasonal allergies are one of the main triggers for asthma, along with colds or flu, cigarette smoke and exercise. In Canada, for example, up to 75% of asthmatics also have seasonal allergies. Based on the symptoms seen on the patient, the answers given in terms of symptom evaluation and

3492-460: Is believed to be the main irritant and contact allergen responsible for provoking allergic reactions and asthma exacerbation. This leads to occupational asthma in woodworkers that are exposed to western redcedar wood dust . Thujaplicins serve as natural fungicides which prevent the wood from rotting . This effect lasts around a century even after the tree is felled. However, thujaplicins are only found in older trees. Saplings do not produce

3589-422: Is commonly used for the framing and longwood in lightweight sail boats and kayaks. In larger boats it is often used in sandwich construction between two layers of epoxy resin and/or fiberglass or similar products. Due to its light weight – 390 to 400 kg/m (24 to 25 lb/cu ft) dried – it is about 30% lighter than common boat building woods, such as mahogany. For its weight it

3686-415: Is important to first bath the eyes with plain eyewashes to reduce the irritation. People should not wear contact lenses during episodes of conjunctivitis. Allergen immunotherapy treatment involves administering doses of allergens to accustom the body to induce specific long-term tolerance. Allergy immunotherapy can be administered orally (as sublingual tablets or sublingual drops), or by injections under

3783-538: Is present on all landforms and soil classes on Vancouver Island, but is restricted to wet, low-lying areas and streamsides in the drier eastern portions of its range. Unlike its associates western hemlock and Douglas-fir, western redcedar can grow well in environments with stagnant groundwater present less than 5 centimetres (2.0 in) below the soil surface in the winter. It does not grow as well in areas with flowing groundwater, unlike another common associate, Sitka spruce ( Picea sitchensis ). Western redcedars growing in

3880-449: Is quite strong but can be brittle. It glues well with epoxy resin or resorcinol adhesive. Its light weight, strength, and dark, warm sound make it a popular choice for guitar soundboards , particularly among European guitar builders such as Lowden and Furch. Western redcedar wood is export-restricted in the United States . The tree is highly allergenic and woodworkers or loggers who work with it may have adverse reactions, including

3977-588: Is still lacking. Thuja plicata is one of two Thuja species native to North America, the other being T. occidentalis . Nuclear genome analysis indicates that it is likely more closely related to T. koraiensis , which is native to the Korean Peninsula. The two species are hypothesized to have diverged in the Miocene . A 2008 study found that western redcedar populations in coastal areas of Washington and Oregon are more genetically variable than populations in

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4074-417: Is the administration of sterile epinephrine to the person experiencing anaphylaxis, which suppresses the body's overreaction to the allergen, and allows for the patient to be transported to a medical facility. In addition to foreign proteins found in foreign serum (from blood transfusions ) and vaccines , common allergens include: Seasonal allergy symptoms are commonly experienced during specific parts of

4171-437: Is the largest species in the genus Thuja , growing up to 70 metres (230 ft) tall and 7 m (23 ft) in diameter. It mostly grows in areas that experience a mild climate with plentiful rainfall, although it is sometimes present in drier areas on sites where water is available year-round, such as wet valley bottoms and mountain streamsides. The species is shade-tolerant and able to establish in forest understories and

4268-462: Is then split lengthwise into the required width and woven or twisted into shape. Bark harvesting was mostly done by women, despite the danger of climbing ten meters in the air, because they were the primary makers of bark goods. Today bark rope making is a lost art in many communities, although it is still practiced for decoration or art in a few places. Other uses of bark are still common for artistic or practical purposes. In recent years there has been

4365-519: Is thus considered a climax species . It is a very long-lived tree, with some specimens reaching ages of well over 1,000 years. Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest use the wood of this species for many purposes, such as building canoes, totem poles , and tools. The bark is harvested by indigenous peoples and processed into a fiber, which they use to make items such as rope, baskets, clothing, and rain hats. Because of its wide range of uses,

4462-561: Is used as a nest tree by cavity-nesting bird species such as yellow-bellied sapsuckers , hairy woodpeckers , tree swallows , chestnut-backed chickadees , and Vaux's swifts . Pileated woodpeckers on the Olympic Peninsula prefer very large western redcedars with heart rot when selecting roosting sites, but do not use them for nesting, instead relying on Pacific silver fir ( Abies amabilis ) for that purpose. Old-growth valley bottom forests of western redcedar and western hemlock are

4559-715: The Cascade Range and Coast Mountains westward to the Pacific Ocean , from central South East Alaska (near the village of Kake) to northern California (growing closer to the coast at the northern and southern extremes). A disjunct population occurs inland from central-southeast British Columbia through the Idaho Panhandle . The easternmost extent of its distribution occurs in Glacier National Park in Montana, where it

4656-534: The Coast Salish peoples describes the origins of the western redcedar. In this legend, there was a generous man who gave the people whatever they needed. When the Great Spirit saw this, he declared that when the generous man died, a great Red Cedar tree will grow where he is buried, and that the cedar will be useful to all the people, providing its roots for baskets, bark for clothing, and wood for shelter. The wood

4753-541: The Lushootseed language , the root for red cedar is x̌payʔ and x̌payʔac refers to a red cedar tree. Thuja plicata is among the most widespread trees in the Pacific Northwest . It is associated with Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii ) and western hemlock ( Tsuga heterophylla ) in most places where it grows. It grows best on moist sites in areas with a wet, maritime climate, and only occurs where precipitation exceeds 71 centimetres (28 in) annually. It grows from

4850-1040: The North Shore Mountains of British Columbia have higher growth rates than associated western hemlock and Pacific silver fir when growing underneath a closed canopy. The study also found that western redcedars do not increase their growth rates in response to canopy gap formation that occurs after the death of a mature overstory tree as much as the two other species. This result indicates that western redcedar may be less reliant on canopy gaps for recruitment than western hemlock and Pacific silver fir. Western redcedar can also reproduce vegetatively via layering , as well as branch development from fallen branches or entire trees. On northeastern Vancouver Island, western redcedar grows along with western hemlock in relatively open-canopied forests with an understory dominated by salal ( Gaultheria shallon ). Another type of forest characterized by dense stands of western hemlock and Pacific silver fir with sparse understory vegetation also occurs in

4947-575: The Royal Horticultural Society 's Award of Garden Merit : Western redcedar is considered the Tree of Life by many of the First Nations of the Pacific Northwest, as the tree gave them everything that they needed for life – food, water (in the form of water tight woven cedar bark baskets), clothing, medicine, transportation (they made their canoes from the cedar tree), shelter (boards of wood from

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5044-423: The sinuses may also become congested, some people experience headaches . If both parents have had allergies in the past, there is a 66% chance for the individual to experience seasonal allergies, and the risk lowers to 60% if just one parent has had allergies. The immune system also has strong influence on seasonal allergies, because it reacts differently to diverse allergens like pollen. When an allergen enters

5141-508: The American horticultural trade, it is also known as the giant arborvitae , by comparison with arborvitae for its close relative Thuja occidentalis . Other names include giant red cedar, Pacific red cedar, shinglewood, British Columbia cedar (being the province's official tree ), canoe cedar, and red cedar. Arborvitae comes from the Latin for 'tree of life'; coincidentally, Native Americans of

5238-564: The Latin word plicāre and means 'folded in plaits' or 'braided,' a reference to the pattern of its small leaves. Most authorities, both in Canada and the United States transliterate the English name in two words as 'western redcedar', or occasionally hyphenated as 'western red-cedar', to indicate that it is not a true cedar ( Cedrus ), but it also appears as 'western red cedar' in some popular works. In

5335-539: The Rocky Mountains and along the eastern slope of the Washington Cascades are subject to higher mortality rates when growing on glacial till and sedimentary rocks than on other substrates. Western white pine ( Pinus monticola ) and Douglas-fir growing in these areas exhibit the opposite pattern, exhibiting low mortality rates on these substrates but high mortality rates on nutrient-poor metasedimentary rocks ,

5432-542: The Rocky Mountains and coastal British Columbia, indicating that the species most likely spread throughout its current range from a single refugium in the southern portion of its range after the Last Glacial Maximum . Some studies have suggested the existence of an inland refugium during the Last Glacial Maximum, likely in central Idaho. However, more recent genomic approaches corroborate the existence of only

5529-594: The West Coast also address the species as "long life maker". One endonymous name for the tree is the Halkomelem word xepá:y , from the roots xíp , meaning 'scratch' or 'line', and á:y , 'bark'; the former root may be in reference to both the lined or "folded/braided" appearance of the bark and the tree's ubiquity in carving and other forms of woodwork. It is called x̱ápay̓ay in the Squamish language . Further south, in

5626-495: The allergen onto the skin and pricking the area with a small needle; or injecting a small amount of allergen under the skin. Alternative tools are available to identify seasonal allergies, such as laboratory tests, imaging tests, and nasal endoscopy. In the laboratory tests, the doctor will take a nasal smear and it will be examined microscopically for factors that may indicate a cause: increased numbers of eosinophils (white blood cells), which indicates an allergic condition. If there

5723-411: The allergen—consuming food or drink one is sensitive to (ingestion), breathing in pollen, perfume or pet dander (inhalation), or brushing a body part against an allergy-causing plant (direct contact). Other common causes of serious allergy are wasp , fire ant and bee stings, penicillin , and latex . An extremely serious form of an allergic reaction is called anaphylaxis . One form of treatment

5820-469: The area. The two forest types occur in areas with very similar environmental conditions and are separated by sharp boundaries, often less than 10 metres (33 ft) wide. Western redcedar recruitment is nearly absent in the western hemlock-Pacific silver fir forest type, and there is no evidence of a transitional stage between the two types. It has been hypothesized that, once established, these forest types are self-sustaining and are unlikely to change unless

5917-412: The base and has shallow roots. The bark is thin, gray-brown, and fissured into vertical bands. Trees growing in the open may have a crown that reaches the ground, whereas trees densely spaced together will exhibit a crown only at the top, where light can reach the leaves. As the tree ages, the top is damaged by wind and replaced by inferior branches. The species is long-lived; some trees can live well over

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6014-525: The body of an individual that is predisposed to allergies, it triggers an immune reaction and the production of antibodies. These allergen antibodies migrate to mast cells lining the nose, eyes, and lungs. When an allergen drifts into the nose more than once, mast cells release a slew of chemicals or histamines that irritate and inflame the moist membranes lining the nose and produce the symptoms of an allergic reaction: scratchy throat, itching, sneezing and watery eyes. Some symptoms that differentiate allergies from

6111-567: The case of nasal symptoms, antihistamines are normally the first option. They may be taken together with pseudoephedrine to help relieve a stuffy nose and they can stop the itching and sneezing. Some over-the-counter options are Benadryl and Tavist . However, these antihistamines may cause extreme drowsiness, therefore, people are advised to not operate heavy machinery or drive while taking this kind of medication. Other side effects include dry mouth , blurred vision, constipation , difficulty with urination , confusion, and light-headedness. There

6208-540: The cedar tree were used to build their long houses), and spirituality (in that the boughs were used in many ceremonies). Some northwest coast tribes refer to themselves as "people of the Red Cedar" because of their extensive dependence on the tree for basic materials. The wood has been used for constructing housing and totem poles , and crafted into many objects, including masks, utensils, boxes, boards, instruments, canoes, vessels, houses, and ceremonial objects. Western redcedar

6305-623: The chemical, causing them to often develop rot at an early stage, causing some trees to grow with a somewhat hollow trunk, as the tree moves to heal itself as it grows. Due to their fungicidal and anti- browning properties, thujaplicins are used in agriculture for fungal diseases and to prevent post-harvest decay . Thujaplicins, like other tropolones, are potent chelating agents and bind divalent metal ions. Basic and animal studies have shown that thujaplicins may have other biological properties, including antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant activities, however reliable evidence on their effectiveness

6402-838: The development of occupational asthma , exacerbation of existing asthma , reduction of lung function , and eye irritation. Approximately 5% of workers are allergic to western redcedar. The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration has set a permissible exposure limit for western redcedar dust of 2.5 mg/m as a time-weighted average over eight hours. The essential oil of western redcedar leaves contains natural compounds, such as α- thujone , β- thujone , fenchone , sabinene , terpinen-4-ol and beyerene, which have also been isolated from different other essential oils. Some of these substances are aroma compounds and are used in perfumery . Thujones are GABA A receptor competitive antagonists , but do not have any pharmacological use due to their high toxicity and convulsive activity. It

6499-503: The ends of the planking. Then wedges would be pounded in along the sides and the planks slowly split off the side of the tree. Trees which have been so harvested are still visible in some places in the rainforest, with obvious chunks taken off of their sides. Such trees usually continue to grow perfectly well, since redcedar wood is resistant to decay. Planks are straightened by a variety of methods, including weighing them down with stones, lashing them together with rope, or forcing them between

6596-467: The following soil pathogens: Armillaria ostoyae , Fomitopsis pinicola , Heterobasidion annosum , Phaeolus schweinitzii , Phellinus weirii , Rhizinia undulata , and Postia sericeomollis . P. sericeomollis is responsible for brown cubical butt and pocket rot of cedar. It is the second-most common cause of decay in Western redcedar following P. weirii . Rather than forming a single column of decay in

6693-470: The genetic profiles of their citizens and different levels of exposure to specific foods, the official allergen lists will vary. Canada recognizes all nine of the allergens recognized by the US as well as mustard. The European Union additionally recognizes other gluten-containing cereals as well as celery and lupin . Another allergen is urushiol , a resin produced by poison ivy and poison oak , which causes

6790-534: The heartwood, P. sericeomollis tends to cause rings or pockets of decay in the lower bole. While Western redcedar is a host to P. weirii, the fungus which causes the disease laminated root rot, it is rated as resistant while other conifers are rated as highly susceptible or susceptible. P. weirii in Western redcedar expresses as a butt rot. In addition to P. weirii, western redcedar is also less susceptible to H. annosum and A. ostoyae than other conifer species. Studies have found that western redcedar produces

6887-591: The high incidence of fungal sensitisation in individuals with suspected allergies. It has been found that of basidiomycete cap, mycelia, and spore extracts that spore extracts are the most reliable extract for diagnosing basidiomycete allergy. In Canada, 8% of children attending allergy clinics were found to be allergic to Ganoderma , a basidiospore. Pleurotus ostreatus , cladosporium , and Calvatia cyathiformis are significant airborne spores. Other significant fungal allergens include aspergillus and alternaria - penicillin families. In India Fomes pectinatus

6984-504: The introduction of steel tools was a complex and time-consuming art. Typically the bark was removed around the base of the tree above the buttresses. Then some amount of cutting and splitting with stone adzes and mauls would be done, creating a wide triangular cut. The area above and below the cut would be covered with a mixture of wet moss and clay as a firebreak. Then the cut would be packed with tinder and small kindling and slowly burned. The process of cutting and burning would alternate until

7081-734: The more advanced woodworking found in northern tribes such as the Tlingit . Harvesting western redcedar required some ceremony and included propitiation of the tree's spirits as well as those of the surrounding trees. In particular, many people specifically requested the tree and its brethren not to fall or drop heavy branches on the harvester, a situation which is mentioned in a number of different stories of people who were not sufficiently careful. Some professional loggers of Native American descent have mentioned that they offer quiet or silent propitiations to trees which they fell, following in this tradition. Felling of large trees such as western redcedar before

7178-619: The most shade-tolerant species in the Rocky Mountains and Pacific Northwest it is considered to be a climax species along with western hemlock. It will readily establish and grow in the shade of other, less shade-tolerant species such as red alder ( Alnus rubra ), black cottonwood ( Populus trichocarpa ), or Douglas-fir, and prevent seedlings of those species from establishing themselves in its shade. However, western hemlock and Pacific silver fir are more tolerant of shade. A 2010 study found that Thuja plicata growing in old-growth forests 300 to 700 metres (980 to 2,300 ft) above sea level in

7275-428: The most vulnerable aspect of many plants. Even though roots are insulated by soil, which tends to be warmer than average air temperatures, soil temperatures that drop too low can kill the plant. The exact temperature which evergreen roots can handle depends on the species, for example, Picea Glauca (White Spruce) roots are killed at −10 °F (−23 °C). In areas where there is a reason for being deciduous, e.g.

7372-464: The northwest side of a structure. Contact allergen An allergen is an otherwise harmless substance that triggers an allergic reaction in sensitive individuals by stimulating an immune response . In technical terms, an allergen is an antigen that is capable of stimulating a type-I hypersensitivity reaction in atopic individuals through immunoglobulin E (IgE) responses. Most humans mount significant Immunoglobulin E responses only as

7469-467: The preferred food source for most species, possibly due to their small size or unpleasant odor. A 1937 study conducted in western Cowlitz County, Washington demonstrated a strong preference among deer mice for Douglas-fir and western hemlock seeds over western redcedar seeds. However, pine siskins apparently favor western redcedar seeds over those of Douglas-fir and western hemlock. Western redcedar appears in all stages of forest succession, but as one of

7566-474: The preferred habitat for white-tailed deer in the Priest River drainage of northern Idaho. The dense canopies of these forests prevent deep snow accumulation, which makes movement difficult for the deer. The foliage, especially that of saplings, is an important food source year-round for browsing ungulates such as Roosevelt elk and black-tailed deer , especially during the winter months when little else

7663-485: The same sensor proteins that evolved to detect proteases produced by the parasitic worms. Additionally, a new report on seasonal allergies called "Extreme allergies and Global Warming", have found that many allergy triggers are worsening due to climate change. 16 states in the United States were named as "Allergen Hotspots" for large increases in allergenic tree pollen if global warming pollution keeps increasing. Therefore, researchers on this report claimed that global warming

7760-603: The seeds. The seeds are 4 to 5 mm ( 5 ⁄ 32 to 3 ⁄ 16  in) long and 1 mm ( 1 ⁄ 32  in) broad, with a narrow papery wing down each side. The pollen cones are 3 to 4 mm ( 1 ⁄ 8 to 5 ⁄ 32  in) long, red or purple at first, and shed yellow pollen in spring. The heartwood of western redcedar contains numerous chemical substances, such as plicatic acid , thujaplicatin methyl ether , hinokitiol and other thujaplicins , β- thujaplicinol , thujic acid , methyl thujate , 1,4-cineole , and γ-eudesmol . Plicatic acid

7857-472: The shelter provided by existing evergreen plants can make it easier for younger evergreen plants to survive cold and/or drought. Evergreen plants can have decorative as well as functional uses. In months where most other plants are dormant, evergreens with their sturdy structure, and vibrant foliage are popular choices to beautify a landscape. Additionally, evergreens can serve as a windbreak , stopping heat loss from buildings during cold months when placed on

7954-416: The shore. If the tree was to become canoes, then it would often be divided into sections and worked into rough canoe shapes before transport. If it were to be used for a totem pole or building materials, it would be towed in the round to the village. Many trees are still felled in this traditional manner for use as totem poles and canoes, particularly by artists who feel that using modern tools is detrimental to

8051-405: The skin (subcutaneous). Immunotherapy contains a small amount of the substance that triggers the allergic reactions. Ladders are also used for egg and milk allergies as a home-based therapy mainly for children. Such methods cited in the UK involve the gradual introduction of the allergen in a cooked form where the protein allergenicity has been reduced to become less potent. By reintroducing

8148-443: The skin rash condition known as urushiol-induced contact dermatitis by changing a skin cell's configuration so that it is no longer recognized by the immune system as part of the body. Various trees and wood products such as paper, cardboard, MDF etc. can also cause mild to severe allergy symptoms through touch or inhalation of sawdust such as asthma and skin rash. An allergic reaction can be caused by any form of direct contact with

8245-534: The species is of great cultural importance to these people. Western redcedar wood is aromatic and rot-resistant and is used for applications such as the construction of shingles and siding. It has been introduced to cool temperate areas in other parts of the world, such as Northern Europe and New Zealand . Thuja plicata is a large to very large tree, ranging up to 45 to 70 metres (150 to 230 feet) tall and 2.4 to 7 m (8 to 23 ft) in trunk diameter, larger than any other species in its genus. The trunk swells at

8342-422: The traditional spirit of the art. Non-traditionalists simply buy redcedar logs or lumber at mills or lumber yards, a practice that is commonly followed by most working in smaller sizes such as for masks and staves. Because felling required such an extraordinary amount of work, if only planks for housing were needed, these would be split from the living tree. The bark was stripped and saved, and two cuts were made at

8439-428: The tree are used and the harvester climbs by alternating between them for support. Since western redcedars lose their lower branches as all tall trees do in the rainforest, the harvester may climb 10 m (33 ft) or more into the tree by this method. The harvested bark is folded and carried in backpacks. It can be stored for quite some time as mold does not grow on it and is moistened before unfolding and working. It

8536-411: The tree was mostly penetrated through, and then careful tending of the fire would fell the tree in the best direction for handling. This process could take many days. A constant rotation of workers was involved to keep the fires burning through night and day, often in a remote and forbidding location. Once the tree was felled, the work had only just begun, as it then had to be stripped and dragged down to

8633-414: The tree. To prevent this, the harvester usually only harvests from trees that have not been stripped before. After harvesting, the tree is not used for bark again, although it may later be felled for wood. Stripping bark is usually started with a series of cuts at the base of the tree above any buttresses, after which the bark is peeled upwards. To remove bark high up, a pair of platforms strung on rope around

8730-428: The underlying cause of a large dieback of this species that could not otherwise be attributed to any "killer pest or known pathogen." Like its relative Thuja occidentalis and many other conifer species, T. plicata is grown as an ornamental tree , and for screens and hedges , throughout the world in gardens and parks. A wide variety of forms, sizes, and colors is available. The following cultivars have gained

8827-413: The west coast of Vancouver Island, tools dating 4,000 to 3,000 years old have been found. The Musqueam site, also near Vancouver, yielded bark baskets woven in five different styles, along with ropes and ships dated to 3,000 years ago. At Pitt River , adzes and baskets were dated around 2,900 years ago. Wooden artefacts 1000 years old were unearthed on the east coast of Vancouver Island. Western redcedar

8924-518: The year as the leaves age and fall, whereas species growing in seasonally arid climates may be either evergreen or deciduous. Most warm temperate climate plants are also evergreen. In cool temperate climates, fewer plants are evergreen. In such climates, there is a predominance of conifers because few evergreen broadleaf plants can tolerate severe cold below about −26 °C (−15 °F). In addition, evergreen foliage experiences significant leaf damage in these cold, dry climates. Root systems are

9021-468: The year, usually during spring, summer or fall when certain trees or grasses pollinate. This depends on the kind of tree or grass. For instance, some trees such as oak , elm , and maple pollinate in the spring, while grasses such as Bermuda , timothy and orchard pollinate in the summer. Grass allergy is generally linked to hay fever because their symptoms and causes are somehow similar to each other. Symptoms include rhinitis , which causes sneezing and

9118-787: Was described as invasive in Great Britain by a 2004 survey, although it is not listed as such by the United Kingdom Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 as of September 2022. Its presence has also been recorded in Poland, where it has been identified as a potentially problematic exotic species in the Białowieża Forest . Western redcedar provides cover for bears, raccoons, skunks, and other animals which nest inside trunk cavities. It

9215-528: Was not strong enough or might fray. Both the branches and bark rope have been replaced by modern fiber and nylon cordage among the aboriginal northwest coast peoples, though the bark is still in use for the other purposes mentioned above. At the right time of year, the bark is easily removed from live trees in long strips. It is harvested for use in making mats, rope and cordage, basketry , rain hats, clothing , and other soft goods. The harvesting of bark must be done with care, as stripping too much bark will kill

9312-484: Was used extensively wherever it was found along the northwest coast (British Columbia, Washington state , parts of Alaska). Evidence of this use is found in culturally modified trees (CMTs) that are found throughout the coast. When First Nations people removed the bark from cedars, it left a scar – which is considered a CMT. Other types of harvest (for planks, tinder, and other uses) leave different types of evidence of cultural modification. A legend amongst

9409-540: Was worked primarily with the adze , which was preferred over all other tools, even ones introduced by Europeans. Alexander Walker, an ensign on the fur trade ship Captain Cook , reported that the indigenous peoples used an elbow adze, which they valued over tools brought by the Europeans, such as the saw or the axe , going so far as to modify traded tools back into an adze. Tools were generally made from stone, bone, obsidian , or

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