cigar-box wood

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Red Cedar
• Spanish Cedar
• Cigar-box Wood
• Barbados-cedar
• Mexican-cedar
• Spanish-cedar
• West Indian-cedar
• cigar-box-cedar

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Surenus mexicana
• Surenus paraguariensis
• Surenus velloziana
• Cedrela brachystachya
• Cedrela hassleri
• Cedrela guianensis
• Cedrela cubensis
• Cedrela caldasana
• Cedrela cedro
• Cedrela glaziovii
• Cedrela huberi
• Cedrela imparipinnata
• Cedrela mexicana
• Cedrela mourae
• Cedrela occidentalis
• Cedrela sintenisii
• Cedrela whitfordii
• Cedrela yucatana
• Cedrus odorata
• Cedrela odorata var. xerogeiton
• Cedrela velloziana
• Surenus guianensis
• Surenus glaziovii
• Cedrela palustris
• Cedrela paraguariensis
• Cedrela paraguariensis var. brachystachya
• Cedrela paraguariensis var. hassleri
• Cedrela paraguariensis var. multijuga
• Cedrela rotunda
• Cedrela mexicana var. puberula
• Cedrela longipes

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is organized under the order Sapindales and the family Meliaceae. Finally, it is identified by its specific genus, Cedrela.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical distribution across several distinct regions of the African continent. In West Tropical Africa, its presence is documented in countries such as Gambia and Guinea. Moving toward the center of the continent, it is found within West-Central Tropical Africa, specifically in Cameroon and the Gulf of Guinea Islands. Its range also extends significantly eastward into the region of East Tropical Africa. Notably, its presence is confirmed in Kenya, demonstrating its ability to thrive in diverse tropical environments.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Cedrela odorata is characterized by its presence in high-altitude forest environments, specifically within the "Bosque alto" habitat. This species demonstrates a broad vertical distribution across diverse landscapes, occupying an elevational range that begins at sea level (0 m AMSL) and extends up to a maximum altitude of 2700 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

2700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Bosque alto

Life history

The life history of Cedrela odorata is characterized by its status as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in tropical environments for many years. As it progresses through its developmental stages, the plant exhibits a deciduous growth habit, shedding its leaves periodically, often in response to seasonal changes or dry periods. This cyclical pattern of leaf loss and regrowth is a key component of its survival strategy within its natural ecosystem.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cedrela odorata is characterized by its growth form as a large, woody tree. It is a self-supporting, independent species that does not function as a climber, liana, or vine, nor does it exhibit parasitic or epiphytic behaviors, remaining strictly terrestrial throughout its life cycle. The plant displays significant vertical development, with its height typically ranging from a minimum of 9 meters to a maximum of 35 meters, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 33.5 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

35 m

Plant height mean:

33.5 m

Plant height min:

9 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cedrela odorata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, utilizing the standard Calvin cycle for carbon fixation, which is typical for many large woody tropical tree species. The plant does not exhibit succulence, lacking specialized parenchymatous tissues designed for significant water storage in its leaves or stems. Furthermore, Cedrela odorata is not a nitrogen fixer, meaning it does not form symbiotic relationships with diazotrophic bacteria to convert atmospheric nitrogen into usable forms, and instead relies on the availability of nitrogen within the soil to support its growth and metabolic processes.

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Succulence :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cedrela odorata is driven by biotic pollination syndromes, primarily involving insects such as bees, which facilitate the fertilization process. Following successful pollination, the plant develops a woody capsule as its fruit type. These capsules are characterized by a mean length of 6.75 cm (ranging from a minimum of 6.5 cm to a maximum of 7 cm), a mean width of 3.75 cm (ranging from 3.5 cm to 4 cm), and a mean height of 3.75 cm (ranging from 4 cm to a maximum of 4 cm). The fruit is dehiscent, meaning it opens at maturity to release its seeds. The seeds themselves are quite small, with a mean mass of 0.0228425 g, though they can range from a minimum of 0.0096 g to a maximum of 0.036 g. In terms of dimensions, the seeds exhibit a length between 1 mm and 30 mm and a consistent volume of approximately 20 mm³. Dispersal is achieved through an anemochorous syndrome, where the seeds are primarily dispersed by the wind to colonize new areas.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Fruit height max:

4 cm

Fruit height mean:

3.75 cm

Fruit length max:

7 cm

Fruit length mean:

6.75 cm

Fruit length min:

6.5 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

4 cm

Fruit width mean:

3.75 cm

Fruit width min:

3.5 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Seed length max:

30 mm

Seed length min:

1 mm

Seed mass max:

0.036 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0228425 g

Seed mass min:

0.0096 g

Seed volume max:

20 mm³

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Cedrela odorata has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include gedunin, Angolensic acid methyl ester, Ash, Cedrelanol, FAT.

gedunin

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry
2. Journal of natural products

Angolensic acid methyl ester

1. Dr. Duke

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

Cedrelanol

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

Mexicanolide

1. Dr. Duke

ODORATONE

1. Dr. Duke

Odoratol

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Cedrela odorata has 5 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antifungal, Antimalarial, Fungicide, Pesticide, Phytoalexin.

Antifungal

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antimalarial

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Fungicide

1. Dr. Duke

Pesticide

1. Dr. Duke

Phytoalexin

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Cedrela odorata has 9 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Pityriasis versicolor, Plasmodium falciparum, Pneumocystis pneumonia, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Streptococcus mutans.

Pityriasis versicolor

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Plasmodium falciparum

1. Journal of natural products

Pneumocystis pneumonia

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Porphyromonas gingivalis

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Streptococcus mutans

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Athlete's foot

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Leishmaniasis

1. Frontiers in pharmacology

Malaria

1. Current topics in medicinal chemistry

Onychomycosis

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Preparations

Cedrela odorata has 4 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include cyclohexane, ethanol, ethanolic extracts, water extracts.

Cyclohexane

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Ethanol

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Ethanolic extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Water extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology