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Chamaecyparis lawsoniana

(A. Murr.) Parl.

Port Orford-cedar

G4Apparently Secure Found in 22 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
Near threatenedIUCN
LowThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.152342
Element CodePGCUP03010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNNear threatened
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumConiferophyta
ClassPinopsida
OrderPinales
FamilyCupressaceae
GenusChamaecyparis
Synonyms
Cupressus lawsonianaA. Murr.
Other Common Names
Port Orford-cedar (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Biotics v1
Review Date2020-04-16
Change Date2020-04-16
Edition Date2020-04-16
Edition AuthorsMorse, Larry E. (1995), rev. Treher (2020)
Threat ImpactLow
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Rank Reasons
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana has a limited range in southwestern Oregon and northwestern California. Within its range, the species is most common along the coast and more scattered inland. Root rot fungus has caused some declines in the species but the threat is primarily limited to streamside and roadside areas where mechanisms for dispersal (vehicles, waterflow) of the fungi are present.
Range Extent Comments
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana occurs in southeastern coastal Oregon and adjacent northeasternmost California.
Occurrences Comments
Within 64 km of the coast, the species is most abundant. but there are uncommon occurrences inland.
Threat Impact Comments
This species is threatened, primarily in streamside sites or those with nearby roads, by Phytophthora lateralis and Phytophthora cinnamomi, two fatal root rot fungi. Phytophthora lateralis is fairly host specific to Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, and now occurs throughout the species native range. These fungi are transmitted from watershed to watershed by mud on vehicles and by humans, domestic and wild livestock and by natural water flow. Resistant individuals have been identified on the landscape (Betlejewski et al. 2003, Hansen 2011, Uchytil 1990).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

This species occupies a variety of conditions including streamsides, glacial basins, terraces, and mountain slopes, across a large elevational gradient (Betlejewski et al. 2003).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - ConiferForest - Mixed
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
CaliforniaSNRYes
OregonS3Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
5 - Biological resource useUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
5.3 - Logging & wood harvestingUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8.1.2 - Named speciesRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL, Long-lived, EVERGREEN
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (22)
California (18)
AreaForestAcres
Blue Creek Rare ISix Rivers National Forest12,134
Bonanza KingShasta-Trinity National Forest16,402
Castle Crags AShasta-Trinity National Forest113
Castle Crags BShasta-Trinity National Forest1,619
KellySix Rivers National Forest5,195
Monkey CreekSix Rivers National Forest9,017
Mt. Shasta BShasta-Trinity National Forest2,809
North Fork SmithSix Rivers National Forest37,898
Orleans Mtn.Klamath National Forest49,090
Orleans Mtn. BSix Rivers National Forest17,183
PacksaddleSix Rivers National Forest3,862
Ship MountainSix Rivers National Forest11,936
SiskiyouKlamath National Forest54,039
Siskiyou BSix Rivers National Forest18,871
Slate CreekShasta-Trinity National Forest6,636
Slide CreekSix Rivers National Forest11,458
South KalmiopsisSix Rivers National Forest321
West GirardShasta-Trinity National Forest37,516
Oregon (4)
AreaForestAcres
North KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests91,560
South KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests104,477
TahkenitchSiuslaw National Forest5,799
TenmileSiuslaw National Forest10,818
References (8)
  1. Betlejewski, F., K. Casavan, A. Dawson, D. Goheen, K. Mastrofini, D. Rose, and D. White. 2003. A range-wide assessment of Port-Orford-cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana) on federal lands. Bureau of Land Management, Oregon State Office Portland, Oregon. 182 pp.
  2. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 1993a. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 2. Pteridophytes and gymnosperms. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xvi + 475 pp.
  3. Hansen, E.M. 2011. <i>Phytophthora lateralis</i>. Forest Phytophthoras 1(1).
  4. Hickman, J. C., ed. 1993. The Jepson manual: Higher plants of California. University of California Press, Berkeley, CA. 1400 pp.
  5. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  6. Little, E.L., Jr. 1971. Atlas of the United States trees. Vol. I. Conifers and important hardwoods. Miscellaneous Publication No. 1146. U.S. Forest Service, Washington, D.C. 200 pp.
  7. Little, E.L., Jr. 1979. Checklist of United States trees (native and naturalized). Agriculture Handbook No. 541. U.S. Forest Service, Washington, D.C. 375 pp.
  8. Uchytil, Ronald J. 1990. <i>Chamaecyparis lawsoniana</i>. In: Fire Effects Information System. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Online. Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/chalaw/all.html (accessed 16 Apr 2020).