: My recollection from plant materials classes a half century ago is
: that the Eastern Red Cedar trees, which we have in abundance
: here on Cape Cod, are not cedars at all. They are actually a
: type of juniper known as juniperus virginiana. There wood is not
: only oily but also brittle. -Wes

What's funny is western redcedar (Thuja plicata) isn't a cedar either. It's related to cypress and is actually a giant arborvitae.