Plants
Spanish cedar
Cedrela odorata L.
Family: Meliaceae · Genus: Cedrela
Cuban cedar, cigar-box cedar
Premium tropical timber of Mesoamerica and northern South America, distinct from Brazilian cedro-rosa (Cedrela fissilis). The Bosque de Niebla Guidebook places C. odorata in the Sec. III/Climax phase of the emergent stratum, alongside mahogany. Aromatic wood used in fine cigars; CITES Appendix III.
Götsch succession
- Götsch stage
- Climax
- Ecological role
- Climax
- Primary stratum
- Emergent
- Strata
- Emergent, High
- Biomass class
- Mulch biomass
Environment
- Light requirement
- Full sun
- Water requirement
- Moderate
- Drought tolerance
- Moderate
- Waterlogging tolerance
- Low
- Soil pH range
- 6–8
- Preferred soil texture
- Sandy, Loamy, Clayey
- Hardiness zones
- 9–12
Morphology
- Mature height
- 20–35 m
- Root depth
- Shallow
- Growth rate
- Moderate
- Lifespan
- 100–200 years
Biomes & climate
- Amazon Native
Köppen classes
- Tropical rainforest (Af) Native
- Tropical monsoon (Am) Native
- Tropical savanna with dry winter (Aw) Suitable
Where it fits in a guild
Spanish cedar takes the Emergent stratum in the Climax phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.
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❓ Frequently asked questions
How tall does Spanish cedar grow?
At maturity, Spanish cedar reaches 20–35 m tall.
What stage and stratum does Spanish cedar occupy in a syntropic system?
In a syntropic system, Spanish cedar belongs to the climax stage, occupying the emergent stratum.
Functions
Propagation
Seed
Citations
- Bosque de Niebla (2019) — Syntropic Farming Guidebook, Consortium Design 2019 , p. 40 (primary_stratum, gotsch_stage)
- Plants For A Future (PFAF) — Cedrela odorata (height_max_m, ph_min, ph_max, hardiness_zone_min, hardiness_zone_max, drought_tolerance, soil_texture_preference, propagation, water_need)
- World Agroforestry (ICRAF) AgroforesTree Database — Cedrela odorata (height_max_m, root_depth, growth_rate, propagation)
External references
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