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Cedar Tree of Lebanon

The cedar of Lebanon, also known as Lebanon cedar, is a species of tall coniferous trees characterized by large, irregularly shaped heads with spreading branches. It belongs to the Cedrus genus of the Pinaceae family. This cedar species typically grows in the mountainous regions of the Eastern Mediterranean. In Middle Eastern culture, it has great historical and religious significance and has been cited several times in ancient literature.

Cedar Tree of Lebanon

Scientific Classification

KingdomPlantae
CladeTracheophytes
DivisionPinophyta
ClassPinopsida
OrderPinales
FamilyPinaceae
GenusCedrus
Scientific NameCedrus libani
Cedars of Lebanon
Lebanon Cedar

Quick Information

Tree TypeEvergreen coniferous
IdentificationHeight: Can grow up to 100-130 ft
Leaves: Needle-like, spirally-arranged, about 5-35 mm long, and 1-1.5 mm wide
Trunk Diameter: 6 ft – 8 ft 2 in
Bark: Rough, scaly, dark gray-blackish brown, has horizontal fissures, stripping in small chips
Cones: Males are solitary, erect, 4-5 cm long, pale green to light brown; female woody cones are scaly, resinous, barrel-shaped, gray-brown, 8-12 cm long
Seeds: Ovoid, 4-6 mm wide, 10-14 mm long, have wedge-shaped wings
Branches: Large, erect
Crown: Conical when young, broadly flat when matured
DistributionEastern Mediterranean regions including western Syria, Lebanon, and south-central Turkey
HabitatGrows on rocky slopes and ridges, in pure or mixed forests at altitudes of 500-3,000 m
USDA Hardiness Zone5b through 10a
Growth RateRelatively slow, growing at a rate of 12-15 inches per year
LifespanLong-lived, can live for more than 1,000 years
Growing ConditionsSunlight: Grows in full sun (about six hours of constant sunlight each day)
Soil: Light sandy, heavy clay, medium loamy, well-drained, dry to moist
Water: Average rainfall, about 40 inches per year
Drought ToleranceModerate to high
Diseases & PestsSusceptible to fungal diseases like botrytis bunch rot and Armillaria root rot (caused by a honey fungus); some common pests include the Lebanese cedar shoot moth
Reproductive SystemMonoecious, which means flowers are either female or male but both sexes are found on the same tree
PropagationThrough seeds, stem cuttings
Wildlife ValueProvides habitat for different invertebrate species, the crevices within the branches and trunks offer nesting places for birds like the tawny owl and roosting sites for bats
UsesWood from Lebanon cedar is used for construction, handicrafts, and furniture; resins and essential oils, extracted from the wood, leaves, and cones, are used for producing antiseptic ointments and cough medicines; planted as ornamental trees in gardens and parks
IUCN Conservation StatusSince its population has been decreasing, it is considered a ‘Vulnerable’ species
Cedar of Lebanon Bonsai
Cedar of Lebanon Cones
Cedar Trees of Lebanon Pictures
Cedars of Lebanon Photos

Interesting Facts

  • The Lebanon cedar has been conferred the Award of Garden Merit by the Royal Horticulture Society in 2017.
  • It appears as the national emblem on the coat of arms and the flag of Lebanon.
  • An exceptional Lebanon cedar specimen recognized by the US state of Arkansas, located inside the Hot Springs National Park, is more than 100 years old.
  • For increasing the population of Lebanon cedars, the Lebanese authorities have created many reserves, including the Cedars of God, which is an old-growth forest in Bsharri.
Cedar Tree Lebanon
Cedars of Lebanon Seeds

References

  1. https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Cedrus+libani
  2. https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/database/documents/pdf/tree_fact_sheets/cedliba.pdf
  3. https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/100314/cedrus-libani/details
  4. https://cals.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/byg/archive/cedarsoflebanon2017.html
  5. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/46191675/46192926

Published on September 3rd 2020 by admin under Cedar.
Article was last reviewed on 5th December 2022.

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