Сегодня мы предлагаем поближе познакомиться с a great representative of evergreen trees - Lebanese cedar. We will learn about how this representative of the flora looks, as well as about where it can be found, and about its meaning and application by humans. In addition, we will answer the question of whether it is possible to grow this tree at home.
На латинском языке это хвойное растение called Cedrus libani. The Lebanese cedar is a type of coniferous trees belonging to the pine family. Under favorable conditions, it grows up to forty-fifty meters in height. The diameter of the tree at the same time reaches two and a half meters. In young Lebanese cedar, crown is conical, and with age it acquires a wide and umbrella-shaped form. The color of the needles varies from green to gray-blue-green.
Fruits these trees twice a year, starting with25-30 years of age. The Lebanese cedar has light brown cones of cylindrical shape, the length of which reaches 12 centimeters, and width - 4-6 centimeters. Seeds are inedible, resinous and spread by wind. Their length is 15-18 millimeters, width - 5-7 millimeters, and the wing reaches 25 millimeters. The bark of the Lebanese cedar is dark gray and scaly. Wood has a red color and is durable, pleasant aroma, lightness and softness.
Lebanese cedar grows slowly.It is able to tolerate low temperatures to minus 30 degrees Celsius. These trees are light-requiring, resistant to drought and undemanding to soils. However, they do not tolerate excessive moisture.
As the name implies, trees of this speciesgrow in Lebanon. As a rule, they are found in hard-to-reach areas at a height of one thousand to two thousand meters above sea level. Unfortunately, due to the long-term uncontrolled logging of Lebanese cedar, as well as due to a significant environmental degradation in areas of natural growth, it was almost completely destroyed. To date, only six small cedar groves have remained in the homeland of this magnificent coniferous plant.
In addition to the homeland of this tree, today you can find Lebanese cedar in the Crimea, on the coast of the Caucasus, as well as in the Caucasus and Central Asia.
By the way, this tree is the main nationalsymbol of Lebanon. His image can be seen on the flag, emblem and currency of this country. The highest state award of Lebanon is the National Order of the Cedar. Also in this country is the Divine cedar forest, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List and under the protection of this organization. There are trees, whose age is two thousand years.
Lebanese cedar since ancient times was used inconstruction and shipbuilding. It is believed that various insect pests are very indifferent to its wood. The first mention of the use of Lebanese cedar rooted in ancient Egypt. Sarcophagi for the deceased pharaohs were made from its wood here. Also the famous funerary Solar boat was made of cedar, which is now located in one of the pyramids of Giza. Also, these trees were used for the decoration of palaces and the construction of religious buildings.
Lebanese cedar has been applied in Europe.So, the world famous Venice - a city on the water - was erected on stilts of this tree. Also the famous Phoenician navigators plowed the waters of the Mediterranean Sea on ships from the Lebanese cedar.
This plant has healing properties. So, oil of the Lebanese cedar has an antiseptic effect.
Это великолепное растение уже на протяжении several centuries grow growers from Europe. Therefore, if you wish, you can decorate your home with Lebanese cedar. The main thing to keep in mind that the worst enemy of this plant is too dry and hot air. Therefore, it is necessary to place a small Lebanese cedar away from warm batteries. Thus, if in winter time you have saved the plant from the negative effects of heat, then in February-March it will give young shoots of a delicate green color.
Lebanese cedar at home can be calleda rather exotic object that will certainly decorate any interior. You can buy it in specialized centers for the sale of plants. By the way, in the southern regions the price for it is often very symbolic (we are, of course, talking about young saplings, and not perennial trees). Alternatively, you can grow Lebanese cedar and seed. However, this process is very long, and not everyone will have enough patience to complete the job.
