Cedar of Lebanon in history
In the Old Testament it is said that with the wood of the cedar of Lebanon the columns of the Temple of Solomon were built; always, the prized cedar of Lebanon - powerful and majestic - is a symbol of power and strength. Already at the time of the ancient Phoenicians, the Lebanese cedar was used for its solid wood in the construction of safe boats and small ships.
Botanical description
The cedar of Lebanon is known in botany as Cedrus libani, an exponent of the Pinaceae family: it is a coniferous congenital gymnosperm, able to exceed 40 meters in height. The ramifications present a tortuous and easily distinguishable posture due to the bizarre candelabra shape, which rises towards the sky: in other words, the branches tend to form 90 ° angles as they are erected upwards. The end result is a thick and rather enlarged crown.
The leaves of the cedar of Lebanon, which cover the crown, generally do not exceed 3 centimeters in length: the leaves, acute (needle-like), persistent, leathery and painted dark green, are grouped in bundles of 20-30, located on small twigs.
The bark changes as the tree grows: in the part closest to the roots, it appears smooth, to then become wrinkled and longitudinally fissured, developing upwards.
The male flowers (better known as strobili) have a pale green color, are typically cylindrical and rather minute, while the female ones are generally larger.
The fruits of the Lebanese cedar are pine cones which, split in half during maturation, disperse the seeds.
The plant prefers poor, sandy soils with a slightly acid pH; however, the cedar of Lebanon is well suited to every type of terrain.
Variety
There are two varieties of the Lebanese cedar, worthy of mentioning:
- Himalayan Cedar ( Cedrus deodora ): it reaches very high heights, so much so that it can even exceed 85 meters in height. Its leaves appear to be miraculous for the treatment of tuberculosis (folk medicine). Typical Himalayan tree, North-West India and Pakistan, with particular falling branches.
- Atlantic Cedar ( Cedrus atlantica ): native to the lands of North Africa, it reaches 40-45 meters in height and the wood tar is used as a substitute for cadé oil. [taken from Dizionario ragionato of herbal medicine and phytotherapy, by A. Bruni, M. Nicoletti]
Loans
As we have seen, the cedar of Lebanon has been used for millennia for its wood, powerful, massive and resistant, as well as aromatic and durable.
However, the uses of the cedar of Lebanon do not stop only with the construction and naval sphere: even the herbal medicine exploits the plant for its medicinal properties. Drugs, consisting of leaves, wood and volatile oil (cedrene 50%, atlantolo), are attributed mostly expectorant and antiseptic properties. Known is the use of glycerine macerate of cedar buds of Lebanon for the treatment of skin psoriasis, thanks to its regenerating capacity of tissues.
Finally, we cannot forget the balsamic properties of the Lebanese cedar, as well as the anticatarrhal and anti-bronchial (decoction of bark). To relieve joint pain, an ointment based on bark extract is recommended.
Summary
Cedar of Lebanon: TO FIX THE CONCEPTS
Cedar of Lebanon in history | Old Testament: cedar wood from Lebanon → construction of the Temple of Solomon Phoenicians → Lebanese cedar wood for shipbuilding Cedar of Lebanon: emblem of the Lebanese flag |
| Cedar of Lebanon: botanical description | Botanical name: Cedrus libani Family: Pinaceae Description of the plant: coniferous coniferous gymnosperm, able to exceed 40 meters in height Ramifications: tortuous and easily distinguished bearing due to the bizarre candelabra shape Chioma: thick and rather enlarged Leaves: acute (needle-like), persistent, leathery, dark green, are grouped in bundles of 20-30, located on small twigs Male flowers: pale green, typically cylindrical and rather minute Female flowers: generally larger than the male ones Fruits: pine cones |
| Cedrio of Lebanon: land | Poor, sandy, with a slightly acid pH |
| Cedar of Lebanon: variety |
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| Cedar of Lebanon: uses | Construction: shipbuilding → solid wood, durable, durable Phytotherapy → leaves, wood and volatile oil gemmotherapy |
| Cedar of Lebanon: property |
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