top of page

Arbor vitae

Etymology:

L. arbor: “tree” +‎ L. vitae: “of life”


Arborvitae was the first tree from North America to be introduced to Europe when French explorers brought the tree to Paris. The tree became a valuable asset when, on one of Jacques Cartier’s long sea voyages in 1536, it was discovered that a tea made from the bark and leaves cured scurvy. In 1558, the tree appropriately received the name “arborvitae,” meaning “tree of life” in Latin. 


Source: https://www.bellarmine.edu/faculty/drobinson/Arborvitae.htm

Definition:

1) The cerebellar white matter, so called for its branched, tree-like appearance. In some ways it more resembles a fern and is present in both cerebellar hemispheres. 


2) Any of the evergreen trees and shrubs known as arborvitae, of the genera Thuja and Thujopsis, or of the species Platycladus orientalis.

bottom of page