Size: 15-22.5 m (50-75 ft), small canopy tree.

Leaves and Flowers: Leaves are scale-like when mature, short and prickly when young, evergreen.

Flowers are small cones - red purple for female and yellowish for male, both are found on the same tree. Fruit is berry-like cone 3-6 mm (1/8 - 1/4 inch), gray or blue green.

Habitat: fields, dry woods, cliffs.

Range: New Brunswick west to North Dakota, south to Texas, east to Florida.

Uses: Sauk and Mesquakie (Sac and Fox) used it to make wooden objects like the flute displayed in the museum at the Black Hawk State Historic Site. As with all trees, the wood was used as fuel for fires needed for heating, cooking, making canoes and maple sugar. Fibers were used to make sandals and baskets.