'Tree of fire'. Chamaecyparis obtusa, the hinoki cypress. 'Fire' refers to its colouring. It is regarded as sacred for its use in shrine building. A conical conifer which grows to 20 metres, it has stringy red-brown bark, and bears aromatic dark green scale-like leaves with silver sides and small yellow-brown cones.
See also Sakaki.
A Popular Dictionary of Shinto. Brian Bocking.