described from the early Paleocene (66-60 m.a. before present) Ravenscrag formation of southwest Saskatchewan and adjacent Alberta, Canada. Uses The wood is very much like that of other cedars in cypress family with a fine, straight grain and distinct aroma. Laotian and Dao tribesmen use Fujian cypress timber for wall partitioning or roofing. The timber was formerly used for coffins and is occasionally referred to as "coffinwood". In Vietnam, it is considered a precious timber because of its characteristic aroma and its exceptional density; therefore it is used to make art works, pieces of furniture, and charcoal of high heat value. It is considered an ecologically threatened species in Vietnam. Distillation, especially of its root, gives an essential oil called pemou oil used in aromatherapy. In China, freshly harvested green cypress branches are burned to smoke and cure salted meat and sausage, sometimes in combination with pomelo and tangerine peels. References External links Cupressaceae Monotypic conifer genera Near threatened plants Trees of China Trees of Laos Trees of Vietnam Taxobox binomials not recognized by IUCN