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Scientific name: Cedrus libani A. Richard 1823
Synonyms: Abies cedrus (L.) Poir., Cedrus cedrus (L.) Huth, Cedrus effusa (Salisb.) Voss, Cedrus elegans Knight, Cedrus libanensis Juss. ex Mirb., Cedrus libanitica Trew ex Pilg., Cedrus libanotica Link, Cedrus patula K.Koch, Larix cedrus (L.) Mill., Larix patula Salisb., Peuce cedrus (L.) Rich., Pinus cedrus L., Pinus effusa Salisb.
Infraspecific taxa: Cedrus libani var. brevifolia Hook.f., Cedrus libani var. stenocoma (O.Schwarz) Frankis
Common names: Lebanon cedar, Cedar of Lebanon (English), Katran ağacı (Turkish)
Tree to 30(-40) m tall or dwarfed at the alpine timberline, with trunk to 1.5(-2.5) m in diameter. Bark dark grayish brown, breaking up into vertically aligned, scaly blocks. Crown remaining conical in forest-grown trees but often broadening and flattening markedly with age in isolation, with long horizontal branches bearing horizontal or rising side branches. Young long shoots hairless or densely hairy with short, dark hairs. Winter buds 2-3 mm long, usually not conspicuously resinous. Needles in tufts of (15-)20-35(-45) on short shoots, dark green or grayish green with wax, 0.5-2.5 cm long (to 4 cm on long shoots), with a short point. Pollen cones 3-5 cm long, red. Seed cones 5-10(-12) cm long, 3-6 cm across, light green to grayish green with purplish highlights before maturity, ripening brown, broadly rounded, flat, indented, or with a central bump at the tip. Seed scales 2-3.5 cm long, 2.5-4 cm wide, with rusty hairs on the hidden lower surface. Seed body (8-)10-15 mm long, the wing 10-20 mm longer.
The Lebanon Cedar is the national emblem of Lebanon, and is displayed on the Lebanese flag and coat of arms.
Mountains adjacent to the northeastern Mediterranean coast, from the western Taurus Mountains of southwestern Turkey to the Mountains of Lebanon, with an outlier in Tokat province (Turkey) near the Black Sea; (500-)1,300-2,500(-3000) m.
Red List Category & Criteria: Vulnerable
In total there are slightly more than 10 locations - one in Cyprus, two in Lebanon, one in Syria and seven in Turkey. The population is severely fragmented, particularly the Syrian and Lebanese subpopulations. The area of occupancy, the quality of habitat is in decline and there is a loss of mature individuals particularly in the areas outside of Cyprus due to a range of detrimental factors including: grazing by goats, urbanization, selective cutting, pest infestation and severe damage in some of the Lebanese forests due to winter sports. So, the species as a whole qualifies for a Vulnerable listing.
The largest stands are in southern Turkey in the Taurus Mountains where there are extensive forests occurring from Boz Mountain (Acipayam) in the west and Ahir and Nur (Amanos) mountains in the east. Its distribution continues towards the southern boundary of Inner Anatolia. Approximately one third of these forests are in a degraded state. In Lebanon the subpopulation is in the form of 15 fragmented stands, more than half of which have an area of occupancy of less than 1 km² and are in a state of severe degradation. In Syria the species forms isolated pockets on the crest of Djebel Ansarieh. There are five separate stands in Cyprus, the largest at Triplyos comprises about 16,000 mature individuals.
Usually occurs on north and westerly-facing slopes at elevations between 1,300 and 3,000 m, but in Turkey it can occur as low as 500 m. Soils are well drained and usually calcareous although in Lebanon trees do occur on sandstone formations. The climate is of cool and moist winters with abundant snow at higher elevations. In Cyprus, Turkey and Lebanon it can occur in pure stands, but more often it is associated with the conifers Abies cilicica, Juniperus excelsa and Juniperus oxycedrus. At lower elevations it is associated with Pinus nigra and Pinus brutia. Commonly associated broadleaved species include: Quercus cerris, Sorbus torminalis and Prunus ursina. In Syria it occurs in a degraded mixed forest with oak, pine and fir. In Cyprus it is often associated with Pinus brutia and Quercus alnifolia and mixed forest with Platanus orientalis. In Cyprus, good seed crops are typically produced once every five to seven year and there is a 50-60 % seed viability.
The most threatened subpopulations are those in Lebanon and Syria where there has been a long history of forest destruction. It is estimated that only 5% of the original forest in these two countries remains today (WWF and IUCN 1994). In Lebanon there has been a recent decline in the forest in Tannourine due to the insect Cephalcia tannourinensis. The weakened trees are then attacked by two further pests which belong to the genera Ernobius and Dasineura. The Lebanese forests of Shouf are being debilitated by the cedar moth (Dichelia sp.). Further threats in Lebanon include urbanization, selective felling for use in the craft industry, severe damage from the activities of winter sports and grazing by goats. In Cyprus, the main threats are fire and possibly climate changes. Because of the narrow distribution of this species, one fire has the potential of destroying most, if not the entire population. More recently, research has shown a direct correlation between decreasing annual rainfall and canopy die-back. Debilitated trees have also become prone to insect attack.
Historically, the timber was been much used for shipbuilding and for the construction of temples. In Lebanon there is a limited amount of exploitation through the demand for ornaments made from cedar wood in spite of the protection that these forests are afforded. Used in reforestation programmes in the Troodos Mountains in Cyprus. Internationally it is sometimes used as an ornamental tree and in research programmes.
Many Cedrus libani forests are in protected areas yet they still suffer from degradation. All remnant forests in Lebanon are protected, including the cedars of Bsharre which are now in a World Heritage Site containing a small stand of the oldest and largest cedar specimens known. Despite laws forbidding damage to the cedar trees there is little enforcement; encroachment by housing development is a serious threat to the trees. In Turkey the testing topography of the Taurus mountains together with the forestry infrastructure have greatly aided the preservation of remnant forests. Here there have also been extensive planting projects, for example between 1994 and 1996, 5,750 ha of cedar trees were planted, some of which are outside the natural range of the species. The small fragmented stand in Syria is part of the 'Cedar-Fir Protected Area'. Seed set is low and there is evidence of insect damage to the cones. In Lebanon and Syria, a more integrated and better coordinated approach (such as exists in Turkey) is needed. Particular attention is needed in conserving old-growth stands which will soon be lost through poor regeneration and natural death as such stands are important sources of genetic material for reforestation and habitat restoration.
In Cyprus all the stands have recently been declared as Natura 2000 Sites while some were designated as National Nature Reserves in 1984 and 2000. All human activities and grazing are excluded from the native stands. There is an effective fire protection system in place and a permanent monitoring plan. Gene banks have also been established in the form of ex situ conservation plantations.
Cedrus libani ’528 WRA’ Cedrus libani ’Aglasun’ Cedrus libani ’Alibaba’ Cedrus libani ’Argentea’ Cedrus libani ’Aurea’ Cedrus libani ’Aurea Prostrata’ Cedrus libani ’Aurea Robusta’ Cedrus libani ’Beacon Hill’ Cedrus libani ’Beneš’ Cedrus libani ’Bergkristall’ Cedrus libani ’Blue Angel’ Cedrus libani ’Blue Fountain’ Cedrus libani ’Blue Snake’ Cedrus libani ’Brevifolia’ Cedrus libani ’Brevifolia Epsteinianum’ Cedrus libani ’Bulky Bull’ Cedrus libani ’Camie’ Cedrus libani ’Candelabrum’ Cedrus libani ’Cenk’ Cedrus libani ’Columnaris’ Cedrus libani ’Comte de Dijon’ Cedrus libani ’Conica Nana’ Cedrus libani ’Decidua’ Cedrus libani ’Denudata’ Cedrus libani ’Don Caster’ Cedrus libani ’Elysabeth’ Cedrus libani ’Eugene’ Cedrus libani ’Fastigiata’ Cedrus libani ’Fontaine’ Cedrus libani ’Glauca’ Cedrus libani ’Glauca Karaca’ Cedrus libani ’Glauca Pendula’ Cedrus libani ’Glauca WB’ Cedrus libani ’Gold Tip’ Cedrus libani ’Golden Door’ Cedrus libani ’Golden Dwarf’ Cedrus libani ’Green Knight’ Cedrus libani ’Green Price’ Cedrus libani ’Green White’ Cedrus libani ’HB Fachschule Melnik’ Cedrus libani ’Hedgehog’ Cedrus libani ’Heemstede’ Cedrus libani ’Heidelburg’ Cedrus libani ’Hilliers HB’ Cedrus libani ’Home Park’ Cedrus libani ’Hulsdonk’ Cedrus libani ’Jacoba’ Cedrus libani ’Jakl’ Cedrus libani ’Katere’ Cedrus libani ’Kenwith’ Cedrus libani ’Kraus Twisted’ Cedrus libani ’May’ Cedrus libani ’Minuta’ Cedrus libani ’Mount Tryplos’ Cedrus libani ’Mt. Saint Catherine’ Cedrus libani ’Multicaulis’ Cedrus libani ’Nana’ Cedrus libani ’Nana Green Prince’ Cedrus libani ’Nana Pyramidata’ Cedrus libani ’Nemrut Dagi’ Cedrus libani ’Neuberk’ Cedrus libani ’Niksartyp’ Cedrus libani ’Pendula’ Cedrus libani ’Purdue Hardy’ Cedrus libani ’Prostrata’ Cedrus libani ’Rita’ Cedrus libani ’Sargentii’ Cedrus libani ’Sargentii Glauca’ Cedrus libani ’Silberspritz’ Cedrus libani ’Sparkling Falls’ Cedrus libani ’Stricta’ Cedrus libani ’Stricta Glauca’ Cedrus libani ’Taurus’ Cedrus libani ’Tawney’ Cedrus libani ’Tortuosa’ Cedrus libani ’Victoria Pendula’ Cedrus libani ’Viridis’ Cedrus libani ’Whitehouse WB’ Cedrus libani ’Wormleybury’
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