| Cedrus atlantica | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Atlas cedar (Ifrane,Morocco) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Gymnospermae |
| Division: | Pinophyta |
| Class: | Pinopsida |
| Order: | Pinales |
| Family: | Pinaceae |
| Genus: | Cedrus |
| Species: | C. atlantica |
| Binomial name | |
| Cedrus atlantica | |
 | |
| Distribution map | |
| Synonyms | |
C. libani subsp.atlantica(Endl.)Batt. & Trab. | |
Cedrus atlantica, theAtlas cedar, is aspecies of tree in the pinefamilyPinaceae, native to theRif andAtlas Mountains ofMorocco (Middle Atlas,High Atlas), and to theTell Atlas inAlgeria.[2] A majority of the modern sources[3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] treat it as a distinct speciesCedrus atlantica, but some sources[11][12] consider it asubspecies ofLebanon cedar (C. libani subsp.atlantica).
Fully grown, Atlas cedar is a largeconiferousevergreen tree, 30 to 35 m (98 to 115 ft) (rarely 40 m) tall, with a trunk diameter of 1.5 to 2 m (4.9 to 6.6 ft). It is very similar in all characters to the other varieties ofLebanon cedar; differences are hard to discern. The mean cone size tends to be somewhat smaller (although recorded to 12 cm,[2] only rarely over 9 cm long, compared to up to 10 cm inC. brevifolia, and 12 cm inC. libani), though with considerable overlap (all can be as short as 6 cm). TheCedrus atlantica leaf length (10–25 mm) is similar that ofC. libani subsp.stenocoma, on average longer thanC. brevifolia and shorter thanC. libani subsp.libani, but again with considerable overlap.[2][8][13]
Atlas cedar form forests on mountainsides at 1,170 to 2,200 m (3,840 to 7,220 ft), often in pure forests, or mixed withAlgerian fir -Abies numidica,Juniperus oxycedrus,holm oak -Quercus ilex, andAcer opalus. These forests can providehabitat for theendangeredBarbary macaque (Macaca sylvanus), aprimate that had aprehistorically much wider distribution in northern Morocco and Algeria.[14]
Currently, Morocco has the highest total surface of Atlas cedar in the world, and it forms vast forests in the humid zones of the country, around the Middle-Atlas range, the oriental and Northern High-Atlas range, and in the Western and Central Rif mountain range. The current total area is around 163,000 hectares, of which around 115,000 hectares (80%) are situated in the Middle-Atlas mountains. The species is in danger from human use, wood harvesting and fires. Data that go back to 1927 show higher number of Atlas cedars (more than 150,000 hectares) in the Middle-Atlas mountains only. The Rif mountains had one of the largest cedar forests in the past, but forests nowadays are much smaller, 15% of the total cedar forests in Morocco. Recently massive reforestation campaigns have taken place in the region ofIfrane Province.[citation needed]
In Algeria, the Atlas cedar has been in significant decline. According to data from 1966 the species inhabited 23,000 hectares, forming forests around theDjurdjura Mountains inKabylie andAures Mountains. However, it is expected that it currently inhabits fewer than 15,000 hectares owing to extensive fires and human use.
C. atlantica is common in cultivation as anornamental tree intemperate climates. In garden settings, often the glaucous forms are planted as ornamental trees, distinguished as the Glauca group, acultivar group. Also, fastigiate, pendulous, and golden-leaf forms are in cultivation. The Atlas cedar is useful in cultivation because it is more tolerant of dry and hot conditions than most conifers.[citation needed]
Many of the cultivated trees have glaucous (bluish) foliage, more downy shoots, and can have more leaves in each whorl; young trees in cultivation often have more ascending branches than many cultivatedC. atlantica specimens.[15]
In theUK the followingcultivars have gained theRoyal Horticultural Society'sAward of Garden Merit (confirmed 2017):[16]
An Atlas cedar is planted at theWhite HouseSouth Lawn in Washington, DC. President Carter ordered atree house built within the cedar for his daughter Amy. The wooden structure was designed by the President himself, and is self-supporting so as not to cause damage to the tree.[20]
Cedarplantations, mainly withC. atlantica, have been established in southern France for timber production.[citation needed]
