Changes

{{otheruses}}

{{SPlantbox

|familia=Pinaceae

| color = lightgreen

|genus=Cedrus

| name = Cedars

|taxo_author=Duham.

| image = Cedre-large.jpg

|common_name=Cedar

| image_width = 240px

|name_ref=Wikipedia

| image_caption = A cedar in a French garden

|habit=tree

| regnum = [[Plant]]ae

|habit_ref=Wikipedia

| divisio = [[Pinophyta]]

|Min ht box=40

| classis = [[Pinophyta|Pinopsida]]

|Min ht metric=m

| ordo = [[Pinales]]

|Max ht box=60

| familia = [[Pinaceae]]

|Max ht metric=m

| genus = '''''Cedrus'''''

|height_ref=Wikipedia

| genus_authority = Duham.

|poison_ref=Wikipedia

| subdivision_ranks = Species

|lifespan=perennial

| subdivision =  

|exposure=sun

&nbsp;&nbsp;''C. libani''&nbsp;var. ''libani''<br>

|image=Cedre-large.jpg

}}

}}

'''Cedar''', in a strict botanical sense, refers to those [[tree]]s belonging to the genus ''Cedrus'' in the [[conifer]]ous [[plant]] family [[Pinaceae]] although the name is commonly used for other plants as well (see below).  They are most closely related to the [[Fir]]s (''Abies''), sharing a very similar cone structure. They are native to the [[mountain]]s of the western [[Himalaya]] and the [[Mediterranean region]], occurring at altitudes of 1,500–3200 m in the Himalaya and 1,000–2,200 m in the Mediterranean.

'''Cedar''', in a strict botanical sense, refers to those [[tree]]s belonging to the genus ''Cedrus'' in the [[conifer]]ous [[plant]] family [[Pinaceae]] although the name is commonly used for other plants as well (see below).  They are most closely related to the [[Fir]]s (''Abies''), sharing a very similar cone structure. They are native to the [[mountain]]s of the western [[Himalaya]] and the [[Mediterranean region]], occurring at altitudes of 1,500–3200 m in the Himalaya and 1,000–2,200 m in the Mediterranean.

They are trees up to 40–50 m (occasionally 60 m) tall with spicy-resinous scented [[wood]], thick ridged or square-cracked [[bark]], and broad, level branches. The shoots are dimorphic, with long shoots, which form the framework of the branches, and short shoots, which carry most of the leaves. The [[leaf|leaves]] are [[evergreen]] and needle-like, 8–60 mm long, arranged singly in an open spiral [[phyllotaxis]] on long shoots, and in dense spiral clusters on short shoots; they vary from bright grass-green to dark green to strongly glaucous pale blue-green, depending on the thickness of the white wax layer which protects the leaves from desiccation. The [[Conifer cone|cones]] are barrel-shaped, 6–12 cm long, and, as in [[Fir|''Abies'']], disintegrate at maturity to release the winged [[seed]]s. The seeds are 10–15 mm long, with a 20–30 mm wing; as in ''Abies'', the seeds have 2–3 resin blisters, containing an unpleasant-tasting [[resin]], thought to be a defence against [[squirrel]] predation. Cone maturation takes one year, with pollination in September-October and the seeds maturing the same time a year later. Cedars are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[Pine Processionary]] and [[Turnip Moth]] (recorded on Deodar Cedar).

They are trees up to 40–50 m (occasionally 60 m) tall with spicy-resinous scented [[wood]], thick ridged or square-cracked [[bark]], and broad, level branches. The shoots are dimorphic, with long shoots, which form the framework of the branches, and short shoots, which carry most of the leaves. The [[leaf|leaves]] are [[evergreen]] and needle-like, 8–60 mm long, arranged singly in an open spiral [[phyllotaxis]] on long shoots, and in dense spiral clusters on short shoots; they vary from bright grass-green to dark green to strongly glaucous pale blue-green, depending on the thickness of the white wax layer which protects the leaves from desiccation. The [[Conifer cone|cones]] are barrel-shaped, 6–12 cm long, and, as in [[Fir|''Abies'']], disintegrate at maturity to release the winged [[seed]]s. The seeds are 10–15 mm long, with a 20–30 mm wing; as in ''Abies'', the seeds have 2–3 resin blisters, containing an unpleasant-tasting [[resin]], thought to be a defence against [[squirrel]] predation. Cone maturation takes one year, with pollination in September-October and the seeds maturing the same time a year later. Cedars are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[Pine Processionary]] and [[Turnip Moth]] (recorded on Deodar Cedar).

There are five [[taxon|taxa]] of ''Cedrus'', assigned according to [[Taxonomy|taxonomic]] opinion to two to four different species:

There are five [[taxon|taxa]] of ''Cedrus'', assigned according to [[Taxonomy|taxonomic]] opinion to two to four different species:

** '''[[Cyprus Cedar]]''' ''Cedrus libani'' var. ''brevifolia'' or ''Cedrus brevifolia''. Mountains of [[Cyprus]]. Leaves glaucous blue-green, 8–20 mm.

** '''[[Cyprus Cedar]]''' ''Cedrus libani'' var. ''brevifolia'' or ''Cedrus brevifolia''. Mountains of [[Cyprus]]. Leaves glaucous blue-green, 8–20 mm.

** '''[[Atlas Cedar]]''' ''Cedrus libani'' var. ''atlantica'' or ''Cedrus atlantica''. [[Atlas mountains]] in [[Morocco]] & [[Algeria]]. Leaves dark green to glaucous blue-green, 10–25 mm.

** '''[[Atlas Cedar]]''' ''Cedrus libani'' var. ''atlantica'' or ''Cedrus atlantica''. [[Atlas mountains]] in [[Morocco]] & [[Algeria]]. Leaves dark green to glaucous blue-green, 10–25 mm.

==Uses==

==Gallery==

[[Image:Cedrus wood.jpg|250px|left|thumb|Cedar wood is not only scented, but also has an attractive color and grain.]]

Cedars are very popular ornamental trees, widely used in [[horticulture]] in [[temperate]] [[climate]]s where winter temperatures do not fall below about -25°&nbsp;C (the Turkish Cedar is slightly hardier, to -30°&nbsp;C or just below). They are also grown for their durable (decay-resistant) scented [[wood]], most famously used in the construction of [[Solomon|King Solomon's]] [[Temple in Jerusalem|temple]] in [[Jerusalem]] provided by King Hiram, or Ahiram, of Tyre, Lebanon, circa 1,000 BC.  The wood is also used for humbler purposes requiring resistance to weather, such as shakes and [[shingle]]s.  Cedar wood and cedar oil is known to be a natural repellent to [[moth]]s [http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~nodice/new/magazine/cedar/cedar.htm], hence [[hope chest]]s were made of cedar when available. Cedar is a popular lining for modern-day closets in which woolens are stored. The use of cedar is mentioned in ''The Iliad'', Book 24, referring to the cedar-roofed or lined storage chamber where Priam goes to fetch the treasures used to ransom the corpse of his son Hector from Achilles. Extensive [[forestry|reforestation]] of cedar is carried out in the Mediterranean region, particularly [[Turkey]], where over 50 million young cedars are being planted annually.

Image:Cedar needle branchlet, one.jpg|a cluster of needles

[[Image:Cedar_bark.png‎ |center|thumb|Cedar bark Use]]]

Image:Barouk Mountain.JPG|Lebanon Cedar in Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve

<br style="clear:both;">

Image:Cedrus atlantica2.jpg|Foliage of Atlas Cedar

</gallery>

==References and external links ==

==References and external links ==

* [http://www.pinetum.org/cones/PIcones.htm Arboretum de Villardebelle - cone photos] (scroll to bottom of page)

* [http://www.pinetum.org/cones/PIcones.htm Arboretum de Villardebelle - cone photos] (scroll to bottom of page)

* [http://www.pinetum.org/PhotoMPF2.htm Arboretum de Villardebelle - Turkey] some photos of ''Cedrus libani'' var. ''stenocoma'' in the wild

* [http://www.pinetum.org/PhotoMPF2.htm Arboretum de Villardebelle - Turkey] some photos of ''Cedrus libani'' var. ''stenocoma'' in the wild

* Meikle, R. D., (1977). Flora of Cyprus (Vol. One). Bentham - Moxon Trust, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. London.  

* Meikle, R. D., (1977). Flora of Cyprus (Vol. One). Bentham - Moxon Trust, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. London.