Cedrela
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 Cedrela odorata foliage
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Cedrela is a genus of seven species in the mahogany family Meliaceae. They are evergreen or dry-season deciduous trees with pinnate leaves, native to the tropical and subtropical New World, from southern Mexico south to northern Argentina.
Species
- Cedrela fissilis Vell. - Costa Rica south to Argentina
- Cedrela hirsuta C. DC. - Paraguay
- Cedrela lilloi C. DC. - Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador
- Cedrela montana Moritz ex Turcz - Colombia, Ecuador
- Cedrela odorata L. (Cedro Hembra) - West Indies and from 24°N in Mexico south to 28°S in Argentina
- Cedrela salvadorensis Standl. - Central America
- Cedrela tonduzii C. DC. - Central America
Cedrela odorata is the commonest species in the genus, widespread in seasonally dry tropical and subtropical forests; it is deciduous in the dry season which may last several months. C. lilloi and C. montana occur at higher altitudes in moister conditions, and are evergreen or only briefly deciduous.
These additional names have been published, but are not now accepted as distinct taxa (see Pennington & Styles 1981): C. angustifolia, C. balansae, C. barbata, C. boliviana, C. brunelliodes, C. ciliolata, C. discolor, C. febrifuga, C. guanensis, C. mexicana, C. oaxacensis, C. occidentalis, C. pacayana, C. paraguariensis, C. rosei, C. rotunda, C. saxatilis, C. sintenisii, C. steinbachii, C. velutina.
Some authors take a wider view of the genus, and include the related Asian - Australasian genus Toona in Cedrela.
[edit] Uses
Cedrela odorata is a very important timber tree, producing a lightweight fragrant wood with very good resistance to termites and other wood-boring insects, and also rot-resistant outdoors. The wood is often sold under the name "Spanish-cedar" (like many trade names, confusing as it is neither Spanish nor a cedar), and is the traditional wood used for making cigar boxes, as well as being used for general outdoor and construction work, panelling and veneer wood. Note that it is now CITES -listed. It is also grown as an ornamental tree, and has become naturalised in some areas in Africa, southeast Asia and Hawaii. The other species have similar wood, but are less-used due to scarcity.
[edit] References
- Pennington, T. D., and Styles, B. T., eds. 1981. Flora Neotropica vol. 28. New York Botanical Garden, New York.
- Smith, C. E., Jr. 1960. A revision of Cedrela (Meliaceae). Fieldiana 29: 295–341.
