CEDAR OF LEBANON: CHARACTERISTICS, HABITAT, USES, CARE - BIOLOGY - 2025

The cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) is a large timber evergreen conifer belonging to the Pinaceae family. It is a native species of the Near East that is also known as Solomon's cedar.

It is a tree with fissured bark, horizontal branches and a pyramidal bearing that is more than 40 m high. The dark green acicular leaves are short and sharp, the plump cones with the flat apex of a tender green-violet color and later greyish.

Cedar of Lebanon. Source: Zeynel Cebeci

It is a very long-lived tree that can live for more than a thousand years. It grows in full sun exposure on well-drained land. It adapts to calcareous and dry soils, although it prefers them frank and fertile, it tolerates occasional frosts, but is susceptible to atmospheric pollution.

It is the national emblem of Lebanon, its high quality wood is straight grain and fine grain, dense, very aromatic and of great durability. As an ornamental tree it is grown in squares and parks, it also has antiseptic properties, being indicated in cases of bronchitis, colds, pharyngitis, flu and sinusitis.

General characteristics

Appearance

Tree with a columnar trunk of 2-3 m in diameter and 40 m in height, with horizontal and firm primary branches that form a pyramidal crown in young trees. When adults, the trunk is divided into several broad and straight branches, the crown being extended and irregular.

The bark is rough, striated and scaly, grayish or dark brown, furrowed by small elongated fissures that break off in small fragments. The branches show an ascending growth horizontally, as they grow they unfold in the shape of an umbrella.

Leaves

The leaves are stiff, sharp, rhomboid-shaped needles, grayish-green in color, 15-35 mm long and 1-2 mm wide. They are grouped of 15-35 short shoots arranged in macroblasts or brachyblasts along the primary and secondary branches.

Cones

In general, flowering occurs between the months of September and November, with the first cones being produced in trees that are approximately 40 years old. The 4-5 cm long male cones are rigid, growing at the end of the shoots and mature light green to pale brown.

The green-purplish female cones are ovoid, woody, resinous and scaly, 8-12 cm long by 3-6 cm wide. They grow in the same way on the shoots, lack a peduncle and require 1.5-2 years to mature when they turn grayish-brown.

Needs of cedar of Lebanon. Source: Crusier

Seeds

When maturing, the cones open longitudinally dispersing the seeds, later they crumble and only the rachis remains attached to the plant. The oval seeds 10-15 mm long by 4-6 mm in diameter have a highly developed wing 20-30 mm long and light brown in color.

Taxonomy

- Kingdom: Plantae

- Division: Pinophyta

- Class: Pinopsida

- Order: Pinales

- Family: Pinaceae

- Genus: Cedrus

- Species: Cedrus libani A. Rich.

Etymology

- Cedrus: the name of the genus comes from the Latin word «cedrus» and from the Greek «kedros». Term with which the trees of the genus Cedrus are known.

- libani: the specific adjective refers to Lebanon or geographic location where the species was initially described.

Infraspecific taxon

- Cedrus libani var. brevifolia Hook. F.

- Cedrus libani var. libani A. Rich.

- Cedrus libani var. stenocoma (O. Schwarz) Frankis

Male cones of cedar of Lebanon. Source: H. Zell

Varieties

- Cedrus libani var. libani: native of Lebanon, western region of Syria and southern territory of Turkey. It is characterized by its extended, not flattened crown.

- Cedrus libani var. brevifolia - Native to the Troodos Mountains on the island of Cyprus. Its slow growth, shorter needles, high tolerance to water deficit and resistance to pest attack are particularly notable.

Synonymy

- Abies cedrus (L.) Poir.

- Cedrus cedrus (L.) Huth

- Cedrus effusa (Salisb.) Voss

- C. elegans Knight

- C. libanensis Juss. ex Mirb.

- Cedrus libanitica Trew ex Pilg.

- Cedrus libanotica Link

- C. patula (Salisb.) K. Koch

- Larix cedrus (L.) Mill.

- Larix patula Salisb.

- Peuce cedrus (L.) Rich.

- Pinus cedrus L.

- Pinus effusa Salisb.

Cedar of Lebanon female cones. Source: Jerzy Strzelecki

Habitat and distribution

The Cedrus libani species is native to the mountain systems of the eastern Mediterranean basin, specifically in Lebanon, Turkey and Syria. Its natural habitat is located in mountainous regions, slopes or steep peaks, on lithosols of calcareous origin between 1,300 and 2,100 meters above sea level.

It prefers Mediterranean climates of hot, dry summers and cold, humid winters, with an average annual rainfall of 1,000-1,500 mm. Cultivated as an ornamental tree, it requires clay-loam soils with good drainage, dry environments and full sun exposure.

In mountainous regions of Turkey and Lebanon it is located at 1,300-3,000 meters above sea level, forming pure forests or in association with Abies cilicica, Pinus nigra, Pinus brutia and Juniperus spp. Some varieties adapt to 500 meters above sea level, such as the Cedrus libani var. brevifolia endemic to the mountains of Cyprus that grows between 900-1,500 meters above sea level.

Applications

Lumberjack

The wood of the cedar of Lebanon is very fragrant and durable, yellowish-brown in color that turns dark over time. It is characterized by its straight grain and fine grain, it is a very stable, durable wood that is resistant to attack by fungi and insects.

It is used in interior carpentry for the manufacture of furniture, doors, windows, plates, decorative coatings, handicrafts, musical instruments and pencils. In exterior carpentry it is used to make posts, beams, columns and crossbars.

Since the Sumerian civilization in the third millennium BC. Until the Roman Empire in the 1st century AD. C. there is a reference to the cedar of Lebanon. The Phoenicians used it to build their ships and as a tribute to pay off their debts with the Egyptian pharaohs.

Cedar of Lebanon in its natural habitat. Source: Vikoula5

In Ancient Egypt, wood was used to build temple doors and its resin was used for embalming. The Babylonians and Assyrians used it to build their palaces, while the Greeks to make statues of the gods and build their temples.

It is said that King Solomon built the temple of Yahweh using this durable and aromatic wood. The English used cedar wood from Lebanon to build railroad ties in the early 20th century in the Middle East.

The firewood of excellent caloric value is used for heating in chimneys or as a source of coal for lime kilns. From the bark, wood and cones a resin known as «cedar» and an essential oil called «cedrum» are obtained.

Ornamental

Today, the cedar of Lebanon is cultivated as an ornamental species in avenues, squares and parks. It is a highly ornamental tree with a dense crown that can be grown alone or in large spaces in association with other species.

Medicinal

The cedar of Lebanon contains various aromatic essential oils that are extracted from the cones and needles for their medicinal properties of antiseptic action. It is indicated to alleviate conditions of the respiratory tract, such as bronchitis, colds, flu, pharyngitis and sinusitis.

Similarly, it is used to make balms that are applied to the chest to calm congestions in the respiratory system. However, a high dose can be dermocaustic, so its intake should be regulated to avoid adverse effects.

Contraindications

Cedar essential oils are contraindicated, except for some medical prescriptions, during pregnancy, lactating women, children under 6 years of age and chronic patients. Similarly, it should not be applied topically to children under 6 years of age, people with skin hypersensitivity or respiratory allergies.

Bark of the cedar of Lebanon. Source: Photo (c) 2007 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man)

Care

Multiplication

The multiplication is carried out by means of viable seeds collected under the trees, a pre-germination process is required prior to sowing. It is recommended to moisten the seeds for 24 hours and cold stratify for 15-30 days at 3-5 ºC.

The sowing is carried out in germinators with a fertile and disinfected substrate, providing medium shade and a constant ambient temperature of 20 ºC. The transplant is carried out after two years, during spring or autumn, incorporating sand into the soil to promote drainage.

Vegetative propagation can be carried out by layering of tender branches that are separated from the mother plant once rooted. By cuttings, cuttings are obtained from young branches that must be rooted under greenhouse conditions during spring.

Location

It is advisable to place in the field in full sun exposure. Preferably it should be positioned in a place where it receives direct light for most of the day.

Floor

It is not very demanding in terms of soil quality, although it prefers permeable, light and cool soils, but not excessively humid. Indeed, it requires well-drained soils in order to avoid waterlogging of the land, which can result in rotting of the root system.

Irrigation

During the first phase of development it is recommended to keep the substrate humid to favor the growth of the seedlings. Young specimens up to 3-4 years old require frequent watering, however, when they grow up, they tolerate drought well.

Once established in the field, it is watered only when the land is completely dry, during winter it is not recommended to apply irrigation. Adult plants develop a deep and extensive root system that allows the plant to make good use of rainfall.

Subscriber

During the establishment of the plantation it is recommended to fertilize at the beginning of spring with organic fertilizers or composted manure. Adult trees easily find their nutrients through their extensive root system, in the same way it is advisable to enrich the soil periodically.

Rusticity

This tree does not require maintenance pruning, only the removal of broken, diseased or old branches. They do not tolerate high relative humidity and excess moisture in the terrain, although they do support high daytime temperature ranges and limestone soils.

Cedrus libani var. brevifolia in the Troodos Mountains in Cyprus. Source: Michal Klajban

Plagues and diseases

The Cedrus libani species is not very susceptible to attack by pests or diseases as long as the edaphoclimatic conditions are adequate. High levels of relative humidity or excessive watering can cause the appearance of fungi in the soil or in the foliar area, being the seedlings more prone to fungal attack.

Botrytis cinerea

It is a saprophytic fungus that causes considerable damage to various forest species or commercial crops. In Lebanon cedar it affects the needles, causing their yellowing, wilting and subsequent defoliation.

Armillaria mellea

It is a basidiomycete fungus that grows in small compact groups at the foot of the trunks. Commonly known as "honey fungus", it mainly affects stems and roots that grow in very humid environments.

Parasyndemis cedricola

The "cedar moth" is a pest belonging to the Tortricidae family, common in the forested areas of Turkey and Lebanon. The larval stage of this moth feeds on the leaves and tender shoots of the plant.

References

1. Cedrus libani A. Rich. (2019) Catalog of Life: 2010 Annual Checklist. Recovered at: catalogueoflife.org
2. Cedrus libani (2019) Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Recovered at: es.wikipedia.org
3. Cedrus libani (Lebanon cedar) (2019) Gijón Atlantic Botanical Garden. Recovered at: botanico.gijon.es
4. Cedrus libani or Lebanon cedar (2019) See Plants. Facts about plants with their care since 2001. Retrieved from: consultaplantas.com
5. Hajar, L., François, L., Khater, C., Jomaa, I., Déqué, M., & Cheddadi, R. (2010). Cedrus libani (A. Rich) distribution in Lebanon: Past, present and future. Comptes Rendus Biologies, 333 (8), 622-630.
6. Iglesias, A. (2019) Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani) Health with Plants: Well-being and Nature. Recovered in: saludconplantas.com
7. Yaman, B. (2007). Anatomy of Lebanon Cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich.) Wood with indented growth rings. Acta biologica Cracoviensia. Botany Series, 49 (1), 19-23.