American cedar, California frankincense cedar or California river cedar (Calocedrus decurrens) is one of the four species of the genus Frankincense cedar (Calocedrus). Characteristic of this type are the elongated, annual cones made up of six scales, the Thujen-like branches and the orange, longitudinally cracked bark of older trees. The incense cedar stands out due to its powerful, column-like trunks, and in free standing also through narrow, dense crowns that reach to the ground. The natural distribution area includes the US states of California and Oregon and the Mexican state of Baja California. Frankincense cedar is the primary supplier of wood used in the manufacture of pencils in the United States. The incense cedar is an evergreen tree and reaches stature heights of 60 and more meters, the maximum is 69 meters. At high altitudes, the trees remain small or grow like shrubs. Frankincense cedar reaches an old age of 300 to 500 years, even older trees with an age of up to 1000 years are documented. However, it is one of the slow growing trees.