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Confusion Over China Fir

I was reading the article "A Closer Look at Cedar From China" (Sept., p.202l) by Peny Lee. While a good article, there are a couple of facts that are misleading, most likely unintentional.

(1) It states, "China Fir is not a true cedar species, but a member of the ?"a.rodiaceae (bald cypress) family." That is old information. At one time Taxodiaceae was regarded as a distinct plant family comprising l0 genera of coniferous trees. Cypress (Taxodium), Sequoia (Sequoia), and Cunninghamia (China fir) were three of them. However. current research has shown that the Taxodiaceae. with one single exception of the l0 genera previously comprising this family (Sciadopitl's), should and have been merged into the family Curessaceae,the same family as Port Orford. incense, Atlantic white. and western red cedars. So "China fir" is in the Cupressaceae family with them, not Taxodiacecea.

(2) It continues, "However. not one of these products is correctly labeled under their true species, China fir." First. China fir is the common name. Cunninghamia is the genus. Lanceolata is the species. Trees can often have more than one common name, some given locally. others by the scientific community. The only way you can be absolutely sure of what a tree's characteristics are. and if a lumber species how the wood will react. is to know the scientific name.

Another way to illustrate this is with Douglas fir. It is not in the true fir genus (Abies) with white fir. It has its own genus. Pseudotsuga. meaning "hemlock like." There is no argument that this is not a fantastic lumber species. but it is not a true fir. It is. however. in the same family as the firs, Pinaceae.

(3) Cunninghamia lanceolata is in the same family as westem red cedar. It has been independently tested in two laboratory trials according to ASTM Standard D-2017 for assessing natural durability by Oregon State University Dept of Wood Science and Engineering. Their conclusion is that this species was classified as highly decay resistant in its heartwood. and its rating is similar to that of western red cedar.

Conclusion: China fir. cedar or whatever we want to refer it as. is a substitutable alternative to anv of the North