It is a largeevergreenconiferous tree reaching 40–50 metres (131–164 feet) tall, exceptionally 60 m (197 ft) with a trunk up to 3 m (10 ft) in diameter. It has a conic crown with level branches and drooping branchlets.[4]
Theleaves are needle-like, mostly 2.5–5 centimetres (1–2 inches) long, occasionally up to 7 cm (3 in) long, slender (1 millimetre or1⁄32 in thick), borne singly on longshoots, and in dense clusters of 20–30 on short shoots; they vary from bright green toglaucous blue-green in colour. The femalecones are barrel-shaped,7–13 cm (2+3⁄4–5 in) long and5–9 cm (2–3+1⁄2 in) broad, and disintegrate when mature (in 12 months) to release the wingedseeds. The male cones are4–6 cm (1+1⁄2–2+1⁄4 in) long, and shed theirpollen in autumn.[4]
Thebotanical name, which is also the Englishcommon name, is derived from theSanskrit termdevadāru, which means "wood of the gods", a compound ofdeva "god" anddāru "wood and tree".[12][13]
It is widely grown as anornamental tree, often planted in parks and large gardens for its drooping foliage. General cultivation is limited to areas with mild winters, with trees frequently killed by temperatures below about −25 °C (−13 °F), limiting it toUSDA zone 7 and warmer for reliable growth.[16] It can succeed in rather cool-summer climates, as inUshuaia, Argentina.[17]
The most cold-tolerant trees originate in the northwest of the species' range inKashmir andPaktia Province, Afghanistan. Selectedcultivars from this region are hardy to USDA zone 7 or even zone 6, tolerating temperatures down to about −30 °C (−22 °F).[16] Named cultivars from this region include 'Eisregen', 'Eiswinter', 'Karl Fuchs', 'Kashmir', 'Polar Winter', and 'Shalimar'.[18][19] Of these, 'Eisregen', 'Eiswinter', 'Karl Fuchs', and 'Polar Winter' were selected in Germany from seed collected in Paktia; 'Kashmir' was a selection of the nursery trade, whereas 'Shalimar' originated from seeds collected in 1964 fromShalimar Gardens, Kashmir and propagated at theArnold Arboretum.[18]
Deodar is in great demand as building material because of its durability, rot-resistant character and fine, close grain, which is capable of taking a high polish. Its historical use to construct religious temples and in landscaping around temples is well recorded. Its rot-resistant character also makes it an ideal wood for constructing the well-knownhouseboats ofSrinagar, Kashmir. In Pakistan and India, during the British colonial period, deodar wood was used extensively for construction of barracks, public buildings, bridges, canals and railway cars.[25] Despite its durability, it is not a strong timber, and its brittle nature makes it unsuitable for delicate work where strength is required, such as chair-making.[citation needed]
The inner wood is aromatic and used to make incense. Inner wood is distilled into essential oil. As insects avoid this tree, the essential oil is used as insect repellent on the feet of horses, cattle and camels. It also has antifungal properties and has some potential for control of fungal deterioration of spices during storage.[citation needed] The outer bark and stem are astringent.[26]
Because of its antifungal and insect repellent properties, rooms made of deodar cedar wood are used to store meat and food grains like oats and wheat inShimla,Kullu, andKinnaur district ofHimachal Pradesh.
Cedar oil is often used for its aromatic properties, especially inaromatherapy. It has a characteristic woody odour which may change somewhat in the course of drying out. The crude oils are often yellowish or darker in colour. Its applications include soap perfumes, household sprays, floor polishes, andinsecticides, and is also used in microscope work as a clearing oil.[26]
AmongHindus, as the etymology of deodar suggests, it is worshiped as a divine tree. Deva, the first half of the Sanskrit term, meansdivine,deity, ordeus. Dāru, the second part, is cognate with (related to) the wordsdurum,druid,tree, andtrue.[25][self-published source?] Several Hindu legends refer to this tree. For example,ValmikiRamayan reads:[28]
In the stands ofLodhra trees,[29]Padmaka trees[30] and in the woods ofDevadaru, orDeodar trees,Ravana is to be searched there and there, together withSita. [4-43-13]
^abAljos, Farjon (1990).Pinaceae: drawings and descriptions of the genera Abies, Cedrus, Pseudolarix, Keteleeria, Nothotsuga, Tsuga, Cathaya, Pseudotsuga, Larix and Picea. Koenigstein: Koeltz Scientific Books.ISBN978-3-87429-298-6.[page needed]
^Willför, Stefan; Ali, Mumtaz; Karonen, Maarit; Reunanen, Markku; Arfan, Mohammad; Harlamow, Reija (2009). "Extractives in bark of different conifer species growing in Pakistan".Holzforschung.63 (5):551–8.doi:10.1515/HF.2009.095.S2CID97003177.
^Tiwari, AK; Srinivas, PV; Kumar, SP; Rao, JM (2001). "Free radical scavenging active components from Cedrus deodara".Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.49 (10):4642–5.Bibcode:2001JAFC...49.4642T.doi:10.1021/jf010573a.PMID11600001.
^Sharma, C. M., & Khanduri, V. P. (2011). Pollen cone characteristics, pollen yield and pollen-mediated gene flow in Cedrus deodara. Current Science (Bangalore), 102(3), 394–397
^abØdum, S. (1985).Report on frost damage to trees in Denmark after the severe 1981/82 and 1984/85 winters. Denmark: Hørsholm Arboretum.[page needed]
^ab"Cedarwood Oils".Flavours and fragances of plant origin. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. 1995.ISBN92-5-103648-9. Archived fromthe original on 2011-06-18. Retrieved2008-08-26.
