Lebanon Cedar (Cedrus libani) is native to the eastern Mediterranean region, including Turkey, Lebanon, and Syria (Choukas-Bradley 1987; Bird 1994; Kurt et al. 2008). It is more widely planted as a highly regarded ornamental (Dirr 1998). Lebanon Cedars have a thick, massive trunk and very wide-spreading branches, the lower ones sweeping the ground. The dark green, densely packed leaves are borne in horizontal tiers. Young trees are slender pyramids, but become flat-topped as they mature. A typical 10-year-old specimen would be around 6 meters tall; after 40 to 70 years, it might reach 12 to 18 meters, but these trees can grow to a maximum size of about 23 to 37 meters in height with a 24 to 30 meter spread. (Bird 1994; Dirr 1998)

The Lebanon Cedar (Cedrus libani) resembles a number of other Cedrus cedars. Cedrus deodara has pendulous leading shoot and branch tips (i.e., the entire new shoot gently droops), whereas C. libani has upright, stiff leading shoots, occasionally with just the branch tips drooping. Cedrus atlantica has densely pubescent (downy) blue leaves, whereas C. libani has glabrous (smooth) or sparsely pubescent green leaves. (Choukas-Bradley and Alexander 1987; Cope 2001)

The natural habitat of Cedrus libanii in the mountains of Lebanon has been substantially impacted by humans over centuries. Intensive logging for ship building and construction, as well as land-clearing for agriculture, were recorded as early as the 3rd millennium B.C. Vanishing forests were already mentioned during the 1st century B.C. and depletion of these forests has continued. It is now estimated that the current 2,000 hectares of patchy cedar forests found in Lebanon are the remnants of more than 500,000 hectares of post-glacial forest. In Turkey, cedar forests cover almost 110,000 hectares and occur primarily in the Taurus mountains, the steep slopes of which have somewhat sheltered its forests from overexploitation and extirpation. (Fady et al. 2008 and references therein)

Lebanon Cedar is native to the eastern Mediterranean region, including Turkey, Lebanon, and Syria (Choukas-Bradley 1987; Bird 1994; Kurt et al. 2008). It is more widely planted as a highly regarded ornamental (Dirr 1998).

The Lebanon Cedar has a thick, massive trunk and very wide-spreading branches, the lower ones sweeping the ground. The dark green, densely packed leaves are borne in horizontal tiers. Young trees are slender pyramids, but become flat-topped as they mature. (Bird 1994; Dirr 1998)

Mature height is about 40 meters (a typical 10-year-old specimen would be around 6 meters tall) (Bird 1994).

After 40 to 70 years, Lebanon Cedar reaches 12 to 18 meters, but it can grow to a maximum size of about 23 to 37 meters in height with a 24 to 30 meter spread (Dirr 1998).

Cedrus libani resembles a number of other Cedrus cedars. Cedrus deodara has pendulous leading shoot and branch tips (i.e., the entire new shoot gently droops), whereas C. libani has upright, stiff leading shoots, occasionally with just the branch tips drooping. Cedrus atlantica has densely pubescent (downy) blue leaves, whereas C. libani has glabrous (smooth) or sparsely pubescent green leaves. (Choukas-Bradley and Alexander 1987; Cope 2001)

Systems

• Terrestrial

Lebanon Cedar is currently found in the mountains of Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon from 1,400 to 2,200 meters above sea level (Quezel and Medail 2003, cited in Fady et al. 2008).

Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Ganoderma lucidum is saprobic on dead stump of Cedrus libani
Other: minor host/prey

The largest specimens of Lebanon Cedar are several hundred years old, but the tree grows surprisingly quickly in its early years--around 15 cm each year for around 70 years--then slows down (Bird 1994).

Fady et al. (2008) studied the genetic variation of Cedrus libani across Turkey and Lebanon. Substantial genetic variation was detected, consistent with the general pattern that eastern Mediterranean conifers tend to harbor higher levels of genetic variation than conifer populations elsewhere (likely due to the fact that their populations during the late glacial maximum (18,000 years ago) were somewhat sheltered in favorable environments and did not suffer strong demographic and genetic bottlenecks). However, this high genetic diversity was not evenly partitioned among C. libani populations. Based on their genetic data, Fady et al. support proposals to recognize two divergent C. libani taxa, one in Lebanon and one in Turkey, which they suggest should be treated as distinct subspecies. The authors suggest that the overall lower genetic diversity found in cedars from Lebanon (as compared with Turkey) is likely the result of overexploitation in the form of logging and/or grazing.

Based on different molecular markers, AFLP, SSR, and RAPD molecular markers, We distinguish within Mediterranean cedars, two groups: the first one is made of Cedrus atlantica, while the second one is made of Cedrus libani and Cedrus brevifolia, these latter two species being genetically similar despite important divergence previously observed for morphological and physiological traits.

C. deodara, the Himalayan cedar constitutes a separate gene pool from the Mediterranean cedars. The

large genetic distances observed between C. deodara and Mediterranean cedars reflect the high geographical distance between these two regions and an ancient divergence between these taxa.

Based on different molecular markers, AFLP, SSR, and RAPD molecular markers, We distinguish within Mediterranean cedars, two groups: the first one is made of Cedrus atlantica, while the second one is made of Cedrus libani and Cedrus brevifolia, these latter two species being genetically similar despite important divergence previously observed for morphological and physiological traits.

C. deodara, the Himalayan cedar constitutes a separate gene pool from the Mediterranean cedars. The

large genetic distances observed between C. deodara and Mediterranean cedars reflect the high geographical distance between these two regions and an ancient divergence between these taxa.

Based on different molecular markers, AFLP, SSR, and RAPD molecular markers, We distinguish within Mediterranean cedars, two groups: the first one is made of Cedrus atlantica, while the second one is made of Cedrus libani and Cedrus brevifolia, these latter two species being genetically similar despite important divergence previously observed for morphological and physiological traits.

C. deodara, the Himalayan cedar constitutes a separate gene pool from the Mediterranean cedars. The

large genetic distances observed between C. deodara and Mediterranean cedars reflect the high geographical distance between these two regions and an ancient divergence between these taxa.

Based on different molecular markers, AFLP, SSR, and RAPD molecular markers, We distinguish within Mediterranean cedars, two groups: the first one is made of Cedrus atlantica, while the second one is made of Cedrus libani and Cedrus brevifolia, these latter two species being genetically similar despite important divergence previously observed for morphological and physiological traits.

C. deodara, the Himalayan cedar constitutes a separate gene pool from the Mediterranean cedars. The

large genetic distances observed between C. deodara and Mediterranean cedars reflect the high geographical distance between these two regions and an ancient divergence between these taxa.

The natural habitat of Cedrus libani in the mountains of Lebanon has been substantially impacted by humans over centuries. Intensive logging for ship building and construction, as well as land-clearing for agriculture, were recorded as early as the 3rd millennium B.C. Vanishing forests were already mentioned during the 1st century B.C. and depletion of these forests has continued. It is now estimated that the current 2,000 hectares of patchy cedar forests found in Lebanon are the remnants of more than 500,000 hectares of post-glacial forest. In Turkey, cedar forests cover almost 110,000 hectares and occur primarily in the Taurus mountains, the steep slopes of which have somewhat sheltered its forests from overexploitation and extirpation. (Fady et al. 2008 and references therein)

Traditional people in southern Turkey produce a wood extract, called katran, from C. libani, and use it to protect wooden structures against insects and fungi, to fight parasites and bacteria, and to heal wounds and cure various diseases in humans and domestic animals, both internally and externally. Kurt et al. (2008) discuss traditional methods of producing katran, its use by local people, and its chemical composition.

The wood of Lebanon Cedar has been greatly appreciated since ancient times for its durability, density, color, and insecticidal properties (Fady et al. 2008). According to biblical references, wood from this tree was used in the construction of King Solomon's temple (Choukas-Bradley and Alexander 1987).