Cedar
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2008-07-07T08:26:09Z
Harumphy
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/* Ecology */
{{otheruses}}
{{Taxobox
| name = Cedar
| image = View from the Barouk Forest 1.JPG
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Lebanon Cedar in [[Al Shouf Cedar Nature Reserve]], [[Barouk]], Lebanon
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Pinophyta]]
| classis = [[Pinophyta|Pinopsida]]
| ordo = [[Pinales]]
| familia = [[Pinaceae]]
| genus = '''''Cedrus'''''
| genus_authority = [[Christoph Jakob Trew|Trew]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision = See text
}}
'''Cedar''' ('''''Cedrus''''') is a genus of [[conifer]]ous [[tree]]s in the [[plant]] family [[Pinaceae]]. 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.<ref name=farjon>Farjon, A. (1990). ''Pinaceae. Drawings and Descriptions of the Genera''. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3-87429-298-3.</ref>
==Description==
[[Image:Cedrus atlantica2.jpg|left|thumb|Foliage of Atlas Cedar]]
Cedars are trees up to 30–40 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 in an open spiral [[phyllotaxis]] on long shoots, and in dense spiral clusters of 15–45 together 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|seed cones]] are barrel-shaped, 6–12 cm long and 3–8 cm broad, green maturing grey-brown, 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 defense against [[squirrel]] predation. Cone maturation takes one year, with pollination in autumn and the seeds maturing the same time a year later. The [[pollen]] cones are slender ovoid, 3–8 cm long, produced in late summer and shedding pollen in autumn.<ref name=farjon/><ref name=idsy>Frankis, M. & Lauria, F. (1994). The maturation and dispersal of cedar cones and seeds. ''International Dendrology Society Yearbook'' 1993: 43–46.</ref>
==Taxonomy==
There are five [[taxon|taxa]] of ''Cedrus'', assigned according to [[taxonomy|taxonomic]] opinion to two to four different species:
* '''[[Deodar]]''' or '''Deodar Cedar''', ''Cedrus deodara'' (Roxb.) G.Don. Western [[Himalaya]]. Leaves bright green to pale glaucous green, 25–60 mm; cones with slightly ridged scales.
* '''[[Lebanon Cedar]]''' or '''Cedar of Lebanon''' ''Cedrus libani''. Mountains of the Mediterranean region, from Turkey and Lebanon west to Morocco. Leaves dark green to glaucous blue-green, 8–25 mm; cones with smooth scales; four varieties, which are treated as species by many authors:
** '''[[Lebanon Cedar]]''' ''Cedrus libani'' var. ''libani'' Mountains of [[Lebanon]], western [[Syria]] and south-central [[Turkey]]. Leaves dark green to glaucous blue-green, 10–25 mm.
** '''[[Turkish Cedar]]''' ''Cedrus libani'' var. ''stenocoma'' (O.Schwarz) Frankis (syn. ''Cedrus libani'' subsp. ''stenocoma'' (O.Schwarz) Davis). Mountains of southwest [[Turkey]]. Leaves glaucous blue-green, 8–25 mm.
** '''[[Cyprus Cedar]]''' ''Cedrus libani'' var. ''brevifolia'' Hook.f. (syn. ''Cedrus libani'' subsp. ''brevifolia'' (Hook.f.) Meikle; ''Cedrus brevifolia'' (Hook.f.) A.Henry). Mountains of [[Cyprus]]. Leaves glaucous blue-green, 8–20 mm.
** '''[[Atlas Cedar]]''' ''Cedrus libani'' var. ''atlantica'' (Endl.) Hook.f. (syn. ''Cedrus libani'' subsp. ''atlantica'' (Endl.) Batt. & Trab.; ''Cedrus atlantica'' (Endl.) Manetti ex Carrière). [[Atlas mountains]] in [[Morocco]] & [[Algeria]]. Leaves dark green to glaucous blue-green, 10–25 mm.
[[Image:cedararz.jpg|right|thumb|A cedar in Lebanon]]
The treatment of the Turkish, Cyprus and Atlas Cedars as [[variety (botany)|varieties]] or [[subspecies]] of Lebanon Cedar is found primarily in [[botany|botanical]] and [[flora|floristic]] works,<ref>[[Joseph Dalton Hooker|Hooker, J. D.]] (1862). On the Cedars of Lebanon, Taurus, Algeria and India. ''Nat. Hist. Rev''. 2: 11–18.</ref><ref>Battander, J.-A. & Trabut, L. (1905). ''Flora de l'Algérie''.</ref><ref name=schwartz>Schwarz, O. (1944). Anatolica. ''Feddes Repertorium'' 54: 26-34.</ref><ref>Coode, M. J. E., & Cullen, J., eds. (1965). Pinaceae. In: ''Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands'' 1: 67–85. Edinburgh University Press.</ref><ref>Meikle, R. D. (1977). ''Flora of Cyprus'' vol. 1. Bentham - Moxon Trust, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. London.</ref><ref>Browicz, K. & Zielinski, J. (1982). ''Chorology of Trees and Shrubs in southwest Asia'' vol. 1.</ref><ref>[[Werner Greuter|Greuter, W.]], Burdet, H. M., & Long, G. (eds.), (1984). Med-Checklist — A critical inventory of vascular plants of the circum-mediterranean countries. [http://ww2.bgbm.org/mcl/PTaxonDetail.asp?NameId=780&PTRefFk=1273 ''Cedrus''], [http://ww2.bgbm.org/mcl/PTaxonDetail.asp?NameId=781&PTRefFk=1273 ''Cedrus libani'']</ref><ref name=idsy/><ref>Güner, A., Özhatay, N., Ekim, T., & Başer, K. H. C. (ed.). 2000. ''Flora of Turkey and the East Aegean Islands'' 11 (Supplement 2): 5–6. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 0-7486-1409-5</ref> while treatment as separate species is more widespread in popular [[horticulture|horticultural]] use,<ref name=egf>Walters, W. M. (1986). ''European Garden Flora'' Vol 1. ISBN 0-521-24859-0.</ref> but also in some botanical works.<ref name=farjon/><ref>Christou, K. A. (1991). The genetic and taxonomic status of Cyprus Cedar, ''Cedrus brevifolia'' (Hook.) Henry. Mediterranean Agronomic Institute of Chania, Greece.</ref><ref>Gymnosperm database [http://www.conifers.org/pi/ce/index.htm ''Cedrus''].</ref> The discrepancy in treatment derives largely from the very narrow gene base of trees in cultivation, which gives a false impression of distinctiveness of the taxa, not borne out when the wider range of variation found in wild trees is examined.<ref name=gaussen>Gaussen, H. (1964). Genre ''Cedrus''. Les Formes Actuelles. ''Trav. Lab. For. Toulouse'' T2 V1 11: 295–320</ref> The Deodar Cedar is more distinct and almost universally accepted as a separate species, though very rarely, it has also been treated as a subspecies of Lebanon Cedar, ''C. libani'' subsp. ''deodara'' (Roxb.) P.D.Sell, thus regarding the genus as comprising a single species.<ref>Sell, P. D. (1990). Some new combinations in the British Flora. ''Watsonia'' 18: 92.</ref>
==Ecology==
Cedars are adapted to mountainous climates; in the Mediterranean they receive winter precipitation, mainly as snow, and summer drought, while in the western Himalaya, they receive primarily summer monsoon rainfall.<ref name=farjon/>
Cedars are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[Pine Processionary]] and [[Turnip Moth]] (recorded on Deodar Cedar).
==Uses==
[[Image:Cedar needle branchlet, one.jpg|right|thumb|a cluster of cedar needles]]
[[Image:Cedrus wood.jpg|250px|left|thumb|Cedar wood is not only scented, but also has an attractive colour and grain]]
Cedars are very popular [[ornamental tree]]s, widely used in [[horticulture]] in [[temperate]] [[climate]]s where winter temperatures do not fall below about −25 °C. The Turkish Cedar is slightly hardier, to −30 °C or just below. Extensive mortality of planted specimens can occur in severe winters where temperatures do drop lower.<ref name=odum>Ødum, S. (1985). Report on frost damage to trees in Denmark after the severe 1981/82 and 1984/85 winters. Hørsholm Arboretum, Denmark.</ref> Areas with successful long-term cultivation include the entire Mediterranean region, western Europe north to the British Isles, southern Australia and New Zealand, and southern and western North America.
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 1000 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,<ref>[http://www.users.globalnet.co.uk/~nodice/new/magazine/cedar/cedar.htm Cedarwood oils]</ref> 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.
== Etymology ==
Both the Latin word ''cedrus'' and the generic name ''cedrus'' are derived from the [[Greek language|Greek]] 'kedros'. Ancient Greek and Latin used the same word, ''kedros'' and ''cedrus'' respectively, for different species of plants now classified in the genera ''Cedrus'' and ''Juniperus'' ([[juniper]]). Species of both genera are native to the area where Greek language and culture originated, though as the word "kedros" does not seem to be derived from any of the languages of the [[Middle East]], it has been suggested the word may originally have applied to Greek species of juniper and was later adopted for species now classified in the genus ''Cedrus'' because of the similarity of their aromatic woods.<ref>Meiggs, R. 1982. Trees and Timber in the Ancient Mediterranean World.</ref> The name was similarly applied to [[citron]] and the word ''[[citrus]]'' is derived from the same root.<ref name=andrews>Andrews, A. C. 1961. Acclimatization of citrus fruits in the Mediterranean region. ''Agricultural History'' 35: 35–46.</ref> However, as a loan word in English, cedar had become fixed to its [[bible|biblical]] sense of ''Cedrus'' by the time of its first recorded usage in [[Anno Domini|AD]] 1000.<ref name=oed>''[[Oxford English Dictionary]]''.</ref>
The name "cedar" has more recently (since about 1700<ref name=oed/>) been applied to many other trees with scented wood (in some cases with the botanical name alluding to this usage). Such usage is regarded by some authorities <ref name=kelsey>Kelsey, H. P., & Dayton, W. A. (1942). ''Standardized Plant Names'', second edition. American Joint Committee on Horticultural Nomenclature. Horace McFarland Company, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.</ref> as a misapplication of the name to be discouraged.
==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{commonscat|Cedrus}}
{{IPA|}}
{{Pinaceae}}
[[Category:Pinaceae]]
[[Category:Incense]]
[[Category:Perfume ingredients]]
[[ar:أرز (شجرة)]]
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[[ca:Cedre]]
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[[es:Cedrus]]
[[eo:Cedro]]
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[[hsb:Himalajaska cedra]]
[[bpy:সেড্রো]]
[[it:Cedrus]]
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[[nl:Ceder]]
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[[no:Sedere]]
[[pl:Cedr]]
[[pt:Cedro]]
[[ro:Cedru]]
[[ru:Кедр]]
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[[sv:Cedersläktet]]
[[uk:Рід Кедр]]
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