(Cedrus atlantica Manetti)
Habitus
- tree growing to a height of 30 - 40 m, crown conical when young, sparse, terminal shoot erect, or only slightly inclined
- bark grey-brown, deeply cracked, forms rectangular irregular plates
Shoots
- produces two types of shoots (similar to deciduous larch):
- long shoots (macroblasts) - yellow, densely hairy, later grey-brown
- shortened shoots (brachyblasts) - grow on biennial branches
Leaves (assimilation organs)
- needles 15 - 25 x 1 - 1.5 mm large, sharp-tipped, firm, angular (in cross-section + / - square), dark green or bluish-grey
- on long shoots (macroblasts) grow individually in a spiral
- on shortened shoots (brachyblasts) grow in whorl-like bundles
- last 4 - 6 years on branches
Flowers
- monoecious woody plant flowers unisexual, grow from buds on brachyblasts
- blooms late in autumn X - XI
- ♂ cones are cylindrical, rounded, greenish-yellow, upright, 40 - 50 x 8 - 12 mm large
- ♀ cones are broadly ovoid, green-purple, upright, 8 - 10 x 4 - 6 mm large
Fruits – seeds
- fruit is a cone 5 - 7 x 3 - 4 cm large, broadly ovoid to cylindrical, bluntly terminated, light brown, shiny, resinous, the seed scales are round, entire-marginal
- ripens in the spring of the 3rd calendar year and then disintegrates.
Extension
- it is originally distributed in the north of Africa in the Rif, High Atlas and Middle Atlas mountains at altitudes of 1,350 - 2,000 m above the sea level.
- was introduced to Europe in 1832.
Ecology
- a light-loving woody plant, tolerates drought well, requires a warm summer
- in Slovakia it is often damaged by low temperatures
Significance
- decorative habit, autumn flowering and fruits
- various forms are known - columnar, mourning, but also colorful forms
