'' was the key to
Bermuda's shipbuilding industry, and used in building houses, and in furniture. It also comprised the habitat for other endemic and native species, and provided Bermudians with shelter from wind and sun. Many of the species are important
timber sources, especially in the genera
Calocedrus,
Chamaecyparis,
Cryptomeria,
Cunninghamia,
Cupressus,
Sequoia,
Taxodium, and
Thuja.
Calocedrus decurrens is the main wood used to make wooden pencils, and is also used in chests, paneling, and flooring. In China, cypress wood, known as
baimu or
bomu, was carved into furniture, using notably
Cupressus funebris, and the aromatic wood of
Glyptostrobus pensilis.
Juniperus virginiana has used by
Native Americans for
waymarking. Its heartwood is fragrant and used in clothes chests, drawers and closets to repel moths. It is a source of juniper oil used in perfumes and medicines. The wood is also used as long lasting fenceposts and for bows. Several genera are important in horticulture.
Junipers are planted as evergreen trees, shrubs, and groundcovers. Hundreds of
cultivars have been developed, including plants with blue, grey, or yellow foliage.
Chamaecyparis and
Thuja also provide hundreds of
dwarf cultivars as well as trees, including
Lawson's cypress.
Dawn redwood is widely planted as an ornamental tree because of its excellent horticultural qualities, rapid growth and status as a
living fossil.
Giant sequoia is a popular ornamental tree and is occasionally grown for timber. Giant sequoia, Leyland cypress, and Arizona cypress are grown to a small extent as
Christmas trees. Some species have significant cultural importance. The
ahuehuete (
Taxodium mucronatum) is the national tree of
Mexico. Coast redwood and giant sequoia were jointly designated the
state tree of
California, and are major tourist attractions where they grow naturally. Parks such as
Redwood National and State Parks and
Giant Sequoia National Monument protect almost half the remaining stands of Coast Redwoods and Giant sequoias.
Bald cypress is the state tree of
Louisiana. Bald cypress, often festooned with
Spanish moss, of southern swamps are another tourist attraction. They can be seen at
Big Cypress National Preserve in Florida. Bald cypress "
knees" are often sold as souvenirs, made into lamps, or carved to make folk art.
Monterey cypresses are often visited by tourists and photographers, particularly a tree known as the
Lone Cypress. The fleshy cones of
Juniperus communis are used to flavour
gin. Native Americans and early European explorers used
Thuja leaves as a cure for scurvy. Distillation of
Fokienia roots produces an essential oil called
pemou oil used in medicine and cosmetics. Recent progress on Endophyte Biology in Cupressaceae, by the groups of Jalal Soltani (
Bu-Ali Sina University) and
Elizabeth Arnold (
Arizona University) have revealed prevalent symbioses of endophytes and endofungal bacteria with family Cupressaceae. Furthermore, current and potential uses of Cupressaceous tree's endophytes in agroforestry and medicine is shown by both groups. ==Chemistry==