Atlas cedar

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Atlas Cedar
• Atlantic cedar

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cedrus libanitica subsp. atlantica
• Cedrus libanotica f. glauca
• Pinus cedrus var. atlantica
• Cedrus atlantica f. glauca
• Cedrus atlantica pendula
• Cedrus libani var. atlantica
• Cedrus libanotica var. glauca
• Cedrus atlantica var. variegata
• Cedrus africana
• Cedrus atlantica glauca-pendula
• Cedrus libanotica subsp. atlantica
• Cedrus argentea
• Cedrus libani var. africana
• Cedrus atlantica var. argentea
• Cedrus atlantica f. argentea
• Cedrus atlantica f. pendula
• Cedrus atlantica var. glauca
• Cedrus atlantica columnaris-erecta
• Cedrus atlantica fastigiata
• Cedrus libani subsp. atlantica
• Cedrus atlantica f. fastigiata
• Cedrus libani var. glauca
• Cedrus atlantica var. pendula
• Cedrus libani f. glauca
• Abies atlantica
• Pinus atlantica
• Cedrus libanotica f. viridis

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 the class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Pinidae and order Pinales, it is a member of the family Pinaceae. Finally, it is categorized under the genus Cedrus.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide-ranging geographical distribution across several regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, its presence can be noted in Great Britain. Moving into Middle Europe, the species is found in both Germany and Hungary. The distribution also extends into Southwestern Europe, specifically covering the island of Corse. Finally, its range includes significant areas within France.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Cedrus atlantica is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, ensuring its long-term presence within its natural ecosystem through sustained growth cycles over many years. As a phanerophyte, its regenerative buds are located high above the ground on woody stems, a structural adaptation that allows it to dominate forest canopies and withstand various environmental pressures. This phanerophyte life form is further defined by its robust, woody architecture, which supports its extensive development from a seedling into a long-lived, large-scale tree.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Cedrus atlantica is characterized by its robust growth form as a large, woody tree. This species is a terrestrial plant, existing as an independent organism rather than acting as a parasite or an epiphyte. It is a self-supporting structure, lacking any climbing or liana-like tendencies. The plant exhibits significant vertical development, with a height ranging from a minimum of 10 m to a maximum of 40 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

40 m

Plant height min:

10 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Cedrus atlantica is characterized by a specialized metabolic framework adapted to the temperate and montane environments it inhabits. A fundamental aspect of its metabolic function is its photosynthetic pathway, which follows the C3 mechanism. This pathway involves the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide by the enzyme RuBisCO during the Calvin cycle, a process that is highly efficient under the relatively cool and moist conditions typical of its native high-altitude habitats. To support this carbon fixation, the plant employs sophisticated water-use strategies, utilizing needle-like leaves with thick cuticles and sunken stomata to mitigate transpirational water loss while maintaining gas exchange. Its physiological processes are also tightly regulated by seasonal temperature fluctuations, where the plant undergoes periods of metabolic dormancy during winter to protect cellular integrity against freezing temperatures, ensuring long-term survival and steady growth during the favorable growing seasons.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Cedrus atlantica is characterized by a specific phenological cycle and specialized seed characteristics. The flowering period is variable throughout the year, though it notably includes a flowering start period around October. The plant produces seeds with a highly specific mass profile; the mean seed mass is approximately 0.0613658335 g, with individual seed weights ranging from a minimum of 0.03236 g to a maximum of 0.0833 g. Furthermore, the dispersal of these seeds follows an anemochorous syndrome, meaning they are primarily dispersed by the wind.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Flowering time :

Oct

Seed mass max:

0.0833 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0613658335 g

Seed mass min:

0.03236 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Cedrus atlantica has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Tannins.

Flavonoids

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Tannins

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Activities

Cedrus atlantica has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antimicrobial, Antioxidant.

Antimicrobial

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Antioxidant

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)

Preparations

Cedrus atlantica has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include essential oils.

Essential oils

1. Antibiotics (Basel, Switzerland)