Cedrus libani commonly known as Cedar of Lebanon. It is
native to Lebanon, Israel, northwest Jordan, western Syria, and south central
Turkey. It is a large growing evergreen tree grows up to 40 m (130 ft) in
height, with a trunk up to 2.5 m (8 ft) in diameter.
The Lebanon Cedar differs principally from the Atlas Cedar
in having, later in life, a drooping or bent leader and horizontal branches
forming table-like masses of needles; furthermore, it usually has grass-green
needles, and the cones are rather lager and more barrel-shaped. It differs
principally from the Deodar by its shorter needles, and in not having pendulous
tips to the branches; furthermore it is less tall, less graceful, and not so
erect, being usually a more spreading tree.
The trees are conical when young, later developing massive
trunks and large, often spreading branches. The branchlets are of two kinds;
the long terminal growth shoots with needles scattered around them (‘juvenile’
foliage), and short spur growths with needles in rosettes. The mature needles
are about and an inch in length, and grass-green.
Both sexes of flowers are usually found on different
branches of the same tree. The male catkins are long and erect, dull
greyish-green with a purplish bloom, liberating bright yellow pollen in autumn.
The females are small, greenish, erect conelets. The resultant erect resinous
barrel-shaped green cones do not reach full size until after two years, when
they turn brown and ripen within a few months. They then gradually break up,
releasing their winged seeds, the central spike of the cone alone remaining.
Like as the Atlas Cedar, at first the bark is smooth and
grey, but with age becomes brown, furrowed and scaly. The wood has a narrow
whitish sapwood and a mid-brown heartwood, and is fairly hard, fragrant,
naturally durable, and will work to a fine finish. It is scarce, hence little
used commercially.
To be handsome ornamental, the tree needs light and space.
Only then ca its wide-spreading crown on a stout trunk, with level branches and
intricate tracery of fine twigs, be fully appreciated. Old specimens
particularly are among the most picturesque evergreens, lending an aspect of
dignity and beauty to parks and gardens.
Cedrus libani – Cedar of Lebanon
Young plant of Cedar of Lebanon
Cedar of Lebanon Leaves
Cedrus libani Leaves
Leaves of Cedrus libani
Cedar of Lebanon Male Catkins
Cedar of Lebanon Male Cone
Male catkins of Cedrus libani
Cedrus libani – Cedar of Lebanon Female Cones
Cedar of Lebanon Female Cones
Female Cone of Cedrus libani
Cedrus libani Female Cone
Cedrus libani – Cedar of Lebanon Catkins (Female)
Cedrus libani – Cedar of Lebanon Logs
Cedrus libani – Cedar of Lebanon Trunks
Cedrus libani – Cedar of Lebanon as Ornamental Plant
Cedrus deodara commonly known as Deodar Cedar also known as
Himalayan cedar. It is native to Western Himalaya, India. It is a large growing
evergreen tree that grows 40–50 m (131–164 ft) in height sometime grows up to
60 m (197 ft) with a trunk up to 3 m (10 ft) in diameter.
The Deodar Cedar Differs principally from the Atlas Cedar in
having a flexible, pendulous leader; and differs from both the Atlas and the
Lebanon Cedar in having longer needles, pendulous tips to the branches and
larger barrel-shaped cones. Furthermore, it is a relatively taller, more
graceful and erect tree than either of the other cedars. The tree is a native
of the western Himalayan ranges of India, and was introduced to Britain in 1831
and 1841.
The trees are conical when young, later developing massive
trunks and large often spreading branches. The branchlets are of two kinds: the
long terminal gracefully drooping growth shoots with needles scattered around
them (‘juvenile’ foliage), and short spur growths with needles in rosettes.
The young needles are yellowish. The mature needles are from
1-2 inches in length, and a soft shade of green.
Both sexes of flowers are usually found on different
branches of the same tree, though whole trees may be of one sex. The male
catkins are long and erect, dull greyish-green with a purplish bloom,
liberating bright yellow pollen in autumn. The females are small, greenish,
erect conelets. The resultant erect resinous barrel-shaped green cones, up to 5
inches long, do not reach full size until after two years, when they turn brown
and ripen within a few months. They then gradually break up to release their
winged seeds, the central spike of the cone alone remaining.
Like as the Atlas Cedar, at first the bark is smooth and
grey, but with age becomes brown, furrowed and scaly. The wood has a narrow
whitish sapwood and a mid-brown heartwood, and is fairly hard, fragrant,
naturally durable, and will work to a fine finish. It is scarce, hence little
used commercially.
It is also use as Medicine. The inward wood is
sweet-smelling and used to make incense. Inward wood is refined into key oil.
As bugs stay away from this tree, the fundamental oil is utilized as creepy
crawly repellent on the feet of steeds, dairy cattle and camels. It likewise
has hostile to parasitic properties and has some potential for control of
contagious disintegration of flavors amid capacity. The external bark and stem
are astringent.
Cedrus atlantica commonly known as Atlas Cedar. The tree’s
native habitat is on the mountains of Algeria and Morocco. It is a large
growing evergreen tree that grows 30-35 m (100 – 118 ft) in height with a trunk
diameter of 1.5–2 m (5-7 ft). Sometime it grows up to 40 m (131 ft) in height.
The Atlas Cedar differs principally from other Cedars in
having an erect leader and ascending ends to the branches. Furthermore, it has
a blue-green foliage, and may even be grey; and the cones are usually more
numerous and rather smaller and less barrel-shaped.
The trees are conical when young, later developing massive trunks
and large, ascending branches. The branch-lets are of two kinds; the long
terminal growth shoots with needles scattered around them (‘juvenile’ foliage),
and short spur growths with needles in rosettes. The mature needles are about
an inch in length, and slightly bluish-green.
Both sexes of flowers are usually found on different
branches of the same tree. The male catkins, in regimented rows, are long and
erect, dull greyish-green with a purplish bloom, liberating bright yellow
pollen in autumn. The females are small, greenish, erect cone-lets, and the
resultant erect resinous barrel-shaped green cones do not reach full size until
after two years, when they turn brown and ripen within a few months. They then
gradually break up, releasing their winged seeds, the central spike of the cne
alone remaining.
At first the bark is smooth and grey, but with age becomes
brown, furrowed and scaly. The wood has a narrow whitish sapwood and a
mid-brown heartwood, and is fairly hard, fragrant, naturally durable, and will
work to a fine finish. It is scarce, hence little used commercially.
The variety glauca, a blue form in cultivating, has very
pleasing blue or glaucous needles. In its most richly colored form it is one of
the most effective of all conifers, but the glaucous tint is an unstable
character. It is common in cultivation as an ornamental tree in temperate
climates. In garden settings, often the glaucous forms are planted as
ornamental trees. There are also fastigiated, pendulous, and golden-leaf forms
in cultivation. The Atlas cedar is useful in cultivation because it is more
tolerant of dry and hot conditions than most conifers. It was introduced to
Britain in 1845 by Lord Somers of Eastnor in Herefordshire. An Atlas cedar is
planted at the White House South Lawn in Washington, DC. President Carter
ordered a tree house built within the cedar for his daughter Amy.
