Spanish cedar / Cedro
Scientific Name: Cedrela odorata
Origin: South America
Botanical Family: Meliaceae
Cedro is a large, evergreen tree native to Latin America known for its lightweight timber and medicinal uses.
Brief History and Description
Large, evergreen, and deciduous Cedro trees can grow up to 40 meters tall and 2 meters in diameter, yielding lightweight timber. It is widely grown throughout the tropics and is indigenous to Latin America. Its tiny flower is white or cream-colored and fragrant, and the fruit is an oblong-oval hanging capsule that is 2 to 4 cm long, green when immature, and reddish brown once it ripens. Each fruit has several seeds.
Culinary Usage and Nutritional Properties
Vitamin C, calcium, iron, and fiber can all be found in Cedro trees, which are also good sources of iron. The bark, leaves, cones, and nuts of the Cedro tree are all edible. The leaves can be eaten raw or cooked, the cones can be used to produce syrup, and the nuts can be consumed raw or roasted. The bark can be used to make tea. This plant is also widely used for honey production (beekeeping) and is very significant because of how prolifically it blooms.
Economic and Environmental aspects
The deciduous Cedro tree contributes to enriching the soil. Additionally, it aids in maintaining topsoil. Cypress trees also prevent soil erosion caused by water. It is used as an attractive tree along highways and parks due to its large crown and low branches, which also make it an ideal tree for shade and windbreak in fields. This plant is a good choice for reforestation initiatives because it is a fast-growing, long-living tree.
Cedro trees can be planted alongside other species to reduce pollution. It should be warned that due to its quick growth, it might become invasive. It is nevertheless listed as a threatened species on the IUCN Red List— the result of overexploitation.
One of the most significant commercial wood species worldwide is the cedro tree.
Cedro trees can be planted alongside other species to reduce pollution. It should be warned that, due to its quick growth, it might become invasive. It is nevertheless listed as a threatened species on the IUCN Red List—the result of overexploitation.
One of the most significant commercial wood species worldwide is the cedro tree. Due to its inherent resistance to termites and rot, aromatic wood is highly sought-after in America's tropical regions. It is used in various wooden products, including cigarette boxes, musical instruments, and a wide range of other items.
Annual Yield
Since the fruit of this tree is not very important compared to its other parts, its annual yield is not available.
Pharmacological Activities and Bio-active Properties
- Cedarwood can be used to cure headaches, fevers, earaches, wounds, and sores,
- A cold water infusion of stem bark is used to treat fever,
- The bark and roots of the tree are used to treat pain and fever,
- Wounds are treated using skin,
- Its leaves and bark decoction are used to treat headaches.
- The decoction of its leaves is used to treat fever,
- The trunk is harvested to prepare an abortion decoction,
- To treat acne, wood shavings are utilised in sweat baths,
- Oil extracted from the seed is used to treat wounds,
- The tree's bark helps treat malaria,
- Bronchitis is treated with skin resin,
- In Suriname, it is also used to treat diabetes and malaria,
- A tree bark decoction is used as a remedy for bleeding, diarrhoea, fever, indigestion, inflammation symptoms, and vomiting,
- Leaves and blossoms have antispasmodic properties,
- It is thought that the seeds have vermifugal qualities,
- The oil extracted from the seed is used to treat wounds,
- The fruit has antihelmintic properties.
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