Cedar of Lebanon | The Wood Database (Softwood) (original) (raw)

Cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani)

Common Name(s): Cedar of Lebanon, Lebanese cedar

Scientific Name: Cedrus libani

Distribution: Mountainous areas of the Mediterranean region

Tree Size: 100-130 ft (30-40 m) tall,

5-7 ft (1.5-2.1 m) trunk diameter

Average Dried Weight: 32 lbs/ft3 (520 kg/m3)

Specific Gravity (Basic, 12% MC): 0.41, 0.52

Janka Hardness: 820 lbf (3,670 N)

Modulus of Rupture: 11,890 lbf/in2 (82 MPa)

Elastic Modulus: 1,465,000 lbf/in2 (10.1 GPa)

Crushing Strength: 6,090 lbf/in2 (42 MPa)

Shrinkage: Radial: 4.1%, Tangential: 6%,

Volumetric: 10.4%, T/R Ratio: 1.5

Color/Appearance: Heartwood is a straw color to light reddish brown. Narrow sapwood is pale yellowish white. Depending on where and how the source tree grew, wood may have large knots.

Grain/Texture: Grain is generally straight, though knots or bark inclusions may cause grain irregularities. Medium to coarse texture with moderate to low natural luster.

Rot Resistance: Rated as very durable, with good overall insect/borer resistance.

Workability: Easy to work with hand and machine tools, though knots and areas with irregular grain can cause difficulties in machining. Turns, glues, and finishes well.

Odor: Has a lingering, sweet scent.

Allergies/Toxicity: Although severe reactions are quite uncommon, cedar of Lebanon has been reported to cause skin and respiratory irritation, as well as runny nose and asthma-like symptoms. See the articles Wood Allergies and Toxicity and Wood Dust Safety for more information.

Pricing/Availability: Not commonly available in North America, storm damaged or ornamental trees are sometimes harvested and sold as smaller craft and turning blanks. There is better availability in Europe, where logs are processed into larger sections of lumber, as well as veneer. Prices are expected to be higher than commercial construction softwood lumber, though still in the low-to-mid range for material meant for decorative or specialty purposes.

Sustainability: This wood species is not listed in the CITES Appendices, but is on the IUCN Red List. It is listed as vulnerable primarily due to a total area of occupancy of less than 770 square miles (2,000 square kilometers), and a severely fragmented population.

Common Uses: Veneer, cabinetry, building construction, boxes/chests (interior lining), and turned objects.

Comments: The country of Lebanon prominently features the tree on its national flag (see image below), and the species derives its name from the once-extensive forest that grew across Mount Lebanon. The wood has been used by ancient civilizations for millennia. Cedar of Lebanon is also referenced in the Bible as the source of timber for Solomon’s temple.

In a botanical sense, Cedrus libani could be considered a true cedar in even the strictest sense of the word. The most conservative definition of ‘cedar’ is limited only to trees of the Cedrus genus, with Cedrus libani arguably being the most well-known and widespread from a historical perspective. The true cedar of cedars.

Images: Drag the slider up/down to toggle between raw and finished wood. The first sample shows a typical, fast-grown tree with flatsawn lumber, while the second is slower-grown with quartersawn grain.

A special thanks to Steve Earis for providing a wood sample and turned photo of this wood species.

Resin canals : absent (though sometimes present due to injury)

Tracheid diameter : small

Earlywood to latewood transition : gradual (slower grown wood may have a more abrupt transition)

Grain contrast : high

Parenchyma : none

Lookalikes/Substitutes: Cedar of Lebanon can sometimes be confused with other softwoods, particularly those that have aromatic wood. Mediterranean cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) is a species with similar geographic distribution and aromatic wood. While many Cupressus species can have diffuse parenchyma (which Cedrus lacks), the easiest and most practical way to seperate the two is through scent. Initial reference material may be needed, but the scents of the two genera are generally divergent enough to be readily distinguished.

Notes: Different cedar species within the Cedrus genus can’t be reliably separated on the basis of wood anatomy.