Foliage and dehiscent cones on an ornamental specimen in Seattle (USA) [C.J. Earle, Feb-1999].
Distribution: Cedrus atlantica in red, C. brevifolia in blue and C. libani in purple (2). |
Cedrus atlantica
(Endl.) Manetti
Common NamesAtlas cedar (1, 2).Taxonomic notesSyn: C. africana Gord. ex Knight; C. libani var. atlantica Hort.ex Carr. (2).Description"A tree up to 40 m high and up to 2 m in diameter. BARK on old trees fissured. CROWN pyramidal, with few branches, open. BRANCHES strongly ascending and relatively short; leading shoot erect and bent at the tip. SHOOTS thickly pubescent. LEAVES silvery bluish or green, usually not longer than 2.5 cm, between 19 and 28 in a whorl. FLOWERS appearing from June to September. CONES cylindrical, with level or concave top, 5-7 cm long, up to 4 cm wide, glossy, light brown, maturing in September and October and shedding seeds into the spring; seed scales about 3.5 cm wide, with tomentose keel. SEED 12 mm long and wing 12-15 mm long" (2).RangeMorocco & Algeria: the Atlas and Riff Mountains, 1000-2000 m, where it forms monspecific stands (2).Big TreeA specimen 382 cm dbh and 30 m tall is recorded in parco Castello, Piemonte, Montalenghe, TO, Italy. Another, 181 cm dbh and 40 m tall, grows in parco Sella, Piemonte, Mosso Santa Mar,VC, Italy (3).OldestDendrochronologyNumerous collections by Charles Stockton, working in Morocco ca. 1984-1989. May be in ITRDB.Ethnobotany"It is a light-demanding tree which succeeds on basic soils, and it is quite hardy. A fast growing species, it is cultivated for ornamental purposes in parks and avenues, and may be used for afforestation of the Mediterranean and sub-Mediterranean barren lands."Wood is durable and used in building and for furniture" (2). ObservationsRemarksCitations(1) Silba 1986 (as C. libani var. atlantica).(2) Vidakovic 1991. (3) CORPO FORESTALE DELLA STATO, a listing of big trees in Italy. See also Little 1980. |
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