Scientific Name: Cedrus Atalntica
Common Name: Atlas Cedar Angiosperm or Gymnosperm: Gymnosperm Natural Habitat: Native to Atlas mountains of Northwest Africa Leaf Pattern: Consist of needles normally one inch in length or shorter. Tend to be more of a blue then green and are grouped tightly on a branch. Germination Process: Has both Male and Female Reproductive organs. Cones fall to release seeds which can take up to 8 months to germinate. Animals and Plants in Area: Commonly supplies resources like water for the Barbary macaque, and old world monkey species, who take bark off to get to water. Bark: Starts as a smooth grey colored back and transforms into a dark and scale bark over time. Size: Usually ranges from 40-60 feet but can grow to be larger. Normally takes a pyramid shape from any angle. Ethnobotany (Human Use): People claim that in biblical times in Lebanon the atlas cedars oils were used during meditation and therapeutic benefits. People still use it today for things like acne, agitation, colds and coughs, even for stress. Wood and sawdust is used in the product and on the website, http://www.ingredientstodiefor.com/item/Atlas_Cedar_Essential_Oil/1052, you can even buy yourself some. It is known to help detox and be an emotional uplifting. The tree tends to be more commonly used as a decorator for parks and streets, building, and for furniture materials. In many parks across the world the tree will line park walkways, avenue drives, and peoples homes for decoration. There is an Atlas Cedar on White house grounds where President Carter Built a self supporting tree house for his Daughter Amy. Many types of furniture use Atlas cedar wood to compose the frame of chairs and tables. In France, they have began timber production commonly using Cedrus Alantica. Summarize Current Research: It has been clear that this tree is a huge supporter of life. In the scholarly article about moths performance based on the tree, it was found that if the tree has lost its needle leaves, also called defoliation, the health of the moth is worse. The results of the test showed that their was a smaller amount of eggs laid on trees that experienced defoliation. (Sbabdji M., Kadik, B.) When an atlas cedar experiences defoliation it is rare for the tree to actually die. After severe defoliation from herbivores, the tree has time to recover from its losses. Along side defoliation is the relation between old and young atlas cedars in the Middle atlas. Studies found that ongoing decline of atlas cedars can lead to things like soil erosion and replacement by other trees. (Carlos J., Lahcen T., Gabriel S., Ignacio J., Julio C.) Drought intensifies the chances of old trees to stop their growth. Young trees are adaptable and seem to work though drought better than older trees. When we look at the ring of trees we think that we can only detect the trees age but you can also discover things like climate changes. Droughts tend to show up and stunt older trees growth throughout the years. The atlas cedar has been known to be both ecologically and economically important through out history. It is considered to be an endangered conifer species in the region of Northern Africa. (Terrab A., Paun O., Talavera S., Tremetsberger K., Arista M., Stuessy T.) Atlas cedars also tend to maintain a high level of genetic diversity in its population. This is good because disease can no longer wipe out an entire population. It is believed this is to do the high number of fathers in the population of trees. (Terrab A., Paun O., Talavera S., Tremetsberger K., Arista M., Stuessy T.) Creative Essay: If you were to go for a walk through the heart of Chico States campus you would see a beautiful tree with its own concrete border. The Atlas Cedar came to Chico all the way from Northern Africa. At first glance you would notice that Its strange needle like leafs never grow larger than anyone's pinky finger. The pyramid shape formed by the trees needle leaves creates an astonishing view to look at. Ranging in height from the space between the pitchers mound and home plate, to the twenty yard line on a football field, it is as tall as it is wide. It is a rare tree which contains both male and female reproductive organs and is a patient grower. Its bark experiences two different stages, smooth to scales, and is extremely adapted for droughts. We use it for decoration and construction of furniture. Sometimes we even use its oil as soothing device. The Atlas Cedar is a unique tree and certainly deserves its location on campus. |
Atlas Cedar, #2
Pods on the Atlas Cedar
Bark of Atlas Cedar
Surroundings of Atlas Cedar
Branches of Atlas Cedar
Trunk of Atlas Cedar
Leaves and pod of Atlas Cedar
Leaves of Atlas Cedar
Branches of Atlas Cedar
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References for Current Research:
Sbabdji, M. M., & Kadik, B. B. (n.d). Effects of Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) defoliation on performance of the pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa). Journal Of Pest Science, 84(2),213-217.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10340-010 0346-x/fulltext.html
Juan Carlos, L., Lahcen, T., Gabriel, S., José Ignacio, S., & Jesús Julio, C. (2013). ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Age-related drought sensitivity of Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) in the Moroccan Middle Atlas forests. Dendrochronologia, 3188-96.
doi:10.1016/j.dendro.2012.08.003 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S112578651200077X
Terrab, A., Paun, O., Talavera, S., Tremetsberger, K., Arista, M., & Stuessy, T. F.
(2006). GENETIC DIVERSITY AND POPULATION STRUCTURE IN NATURAL POPULATIONS OF MOROCCAN ATLAS CEDAR (CEDRUS ATLANTICA; PINACEAE)
DETERMINED WITH CPSSR MARKERS. American Journal Of Botany, 93(9), 1274-1280.http://www.amjbot.org/content/93/9/1274.full
References for Identification and use of Tree:
http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=274
http://www.conifers.org/pi/Cedrus_atlantica.php
https://sites.google.com/site/cedarprop/
http://findmeacure.com/2010/07/05/cedar-cedrus-atlantica/
Sbabdji, M. M., & Kadik, B. B. (n.d). Effects of Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) defoliation on performance of the pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa). Journal Of Pest Science, 84(2),213-217.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10340-010 0346-x/fulltext.html
Juan Carlos, L., Lahcen, T., Gabriel, S., José Ignacio, S., & Jesús Julio, C. (2013). ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Age-related drought sensitivity of Atlas cedar (Cedrus atlantica) in the Moroccan Middle Atlas forests. Dendrochronologia, 3188-96.
doi:10.1016/j.dendro.2012.08.003 http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S112578651200077X
Terrab, A., Paun, O., Talavera, S., Tremetsberger, K., Arista, M., & Stuessy, T. F.
(2006). GENETIC DIVERSITY AND POPULATION STRUCTURE IN NATURAL POPULATIONS OF MOROCCAN ATLAS CEDAR (CEDRUS ATLANTICA; PINACEAE)
DETERMINED WITH CPSSR MARKERS. American Journal Of Botany, 93(9), 1274-1280.http://www.amjbot.org/content/93/9/1274.full
References for Identification and use of Tree:
http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=274
http://www.conifers.org/pi/Cedrus_atlantica.php
https://sites.google.com/site/cedarprop/
http://findmeacure.com/2010/07/05/cedar-cedrus-atlantica/