The cedar(Cedrus ) is a cone-bearing tree close related to the fir tree . Its aromatic Sir Henry Wood and resinous vegetable oil have been used and revered by mankind for chiliad of years . Cedars are aboriginal to the cragged areas of the western Himalayas and the Mediterranean Sea area . Unlike most conifers that have a central trunk , cedars produce propagate limb that grow off from the independent trunk .
Description
Cedars can grow up to 100 human foot in altitude , sometimes higher . The woods has a well - bang spicy smell . Cedar leaves are evergreen and acerate leaf - alike . depend on the thickness of the waxy layer that forbid their dry out out , the needles can vary in color from bright unripened to dark blue - green . The browned germ cones require a twelvemonth to reach matureness , at which sentence they disintegrate and broadcast winged seed .
Types
There are two species of cedar . The Deodar true cedar , aboriginal to the western Himalayas , has weeping branches and round cones with slightly keeled scales . This tree diagram is a hulk in its aboriginal Himalaya habitat , where it can extend to 250 feet in meridian . As a lawn tree diagram , it is more likely to reach up to 70 foot in height . In maturity , its class is wide - spreading and flat - top out . The name " Deodar " total from Sanskrit , meaning " timber of the gods . " It was acquaint to Europe in 1822 , and to the United States shortly afterwards .
The Lebanon cedar ( or Cedar of Lebanon ) is aboriginal to the mountain of the Mediterranean Sea areas of Lebanon , Syria and Turkey . It has horizontal offshoot and cones with placid scales . The Turkish , Cyprus and Atlas cedars are all varieties of the Lebanon cedar tree . Very few old cedars still subsist in Lebanon , but a program is under elbow room to conserve and regenerate one-time Leslie Richard Groves . The Lebanon Cedar is the interior symbol of Lebanon , and is the central allegory on the res publica ’s sword lily .
Uses
cedar are pop for their ornamental as well as utilitarian time value . cedar tree wood is decay- and weather condition - resistant , making it a popular choice for shingles , piece of furniture and construction . The perfumed Mrs. Henry Wood and oil are natural moth repellants and have long been used to trace press and drawers where linen are salt away . Cedar also has been used in building musical instrumental role such as guitar . cedar tree wood oil is a modern - day constituent in aromatherapy , used for its antiseptic and acerb quality .
History
The cedar was an of import part of ancient culture . The Phoenicians used these trees for building ships and houses . The Sumerians believed cedar tree groves were the inhabit places of the gods , and burned cedar in their ceremonies . The cedar is mentioned in both the Bible and the Talmud . Cedar was used to build important buildings in ancient time , including King Solomon ’s Temple and the palaces of David and King Solomon .
Historical Significance
The cedarwood was the source of one of human race ’s earliest essence . The ancient Egyptians used the pitchy oil of the cedar tree for embalm . They also used the tree diagram ’s woods for making sarcophagus ( coffins ) , some of which are still in first-class precondition after 3,000 days . Noah was imagine to have prepared an offering of cedarwood and myrtle incense to give thanks for surviving the flood . Cedarwood was also burned as incense in Tibetan monastery .
