Cedrela is a genus of several species in the mahogany family, Meliaceae. They are evergreen or dry-season deciduous trees with pinnate leaves, native to the tropical and subtropical New World, from southern Mexico to northern Argentina.
On 28 October 2022, all Neo-tropic Cedrela species were added to the list of species requiring international protections, in CITES Appendix II.
Taxonomy
These species are currently accepted:
Cedrela angustifolia Sessé & Moc. ex C.DC. – Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Ecuador, Peru
Cedrela discolor S.F. Blake
Cedrela dugesii S.Watson
Cedrela fissilis Vell. – Costa Rica south to Argentina
Cedrela kuelapensis T.D. Penn. & Daza
Cedrela longipetiolulata Harms
Cedrela molinensis T.D. Penn. & Reynel
Cedrela monroensis T.D. Penn.
Cedrela montana Moritz ex Turcz – Colombia and Ecuador
Cedrela nebulosa T.D. Penn. & Daza
Cedrela odorata L. – West Indies and from 24° N in Mexico south to 28° S in Argentina
Cedrela oaxacensis C.DC. & Rose
Cedrela saltensis M.A. Zapater & del Castillo
Cedrela salvadorensis Standl. – Central America
Cedrela tonduzii C.DC. – Central America
Cedrela weberbaueri Harms
Distribution and habitat
Cedrela odorata is the most common species in the genus, widespread in seasonally dry tropical and subtropical forests; it is deciduous in the dry season which may last several months. C. angustifolia and C. montana occur at higher altitudes in moister conditions, and are evergreen or only briefly deciduous.
Open fruits of Cedrela sp. showing the central column
Uses
Cedrela odorata is a timber tree that produces a lightweight, fragrant wood with resistance to wood-boring insects (e.g., termites) and is also rot-resistant. The wood is often sold under the name "Spanish-cedar" (it is neither Spanish nor a cedar), and is the traditional wood used for making cigar boxes, as well as being used for general outdoor and construction work, paneling and veneer wood, and necks and linings (interior strips of wood...
