Mountain Cedar, Australian Red Cedar, Toona
Toona ciliata

Family: Meliaceae

What it is like

Toona ciliata, otherwise known as Mountain Cedar, Australian Red Cedar, or Red Cedar, is a vigorous, deciduous tree growing about 20 - 35 m in height and up to 300 cm in trunk diameter. It can be found in East Asia. The crown is rounded, spreading, and dense. The root system is also spreading. The trunk can be buttressed of up to 3.5 m tall. The leaves can be cooked and consumed as food. Medicinally, the bark is used in the treatment of chronic dysentery and wounds. It also yields a resinous gum which is used to treat boils. The flowers are used to stimulate menstrual flow in women. Also, it yields dye. The bark produces tannin and fibers. The fruits yield aromatic oil. The wood is used for shiitake mushroom culture. It is moderately hard, lightweight, tough and durable. Such characteristics make it ideal for a variety of uses like carvings, boat building, cabinet production, high-grade furniture, decorative veneer and plywood, boxes and crates, and many others.

Toona ciliata is a deciduous Tree growing to 30 m (98ft) by 30 m (98ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Bees, Moths. Suitable for: medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in heavy clay soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid and neutral soils and can grow in very acid soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist or wet soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 30

Where it is found

Common to abundant in shade or open habitats: valleys, ravines, woods, thickets, forests, hillsides, mountaintops, slopes, near rivers and streams, especially throughout Yunnan, at elevations of 400 - 2,800 metres.

E. Asia - China, Indian subcontinent, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesi

Conservation Status: Status: Lower Risk/least concern

Countries/locations it is found in

China; Malaysia; Australia; Bangladesh; Thailand; Lao People's Democratic Republic; Cambodia; Viet Nam; Philippines; Indonesia; Myanmar; Papua New Guinea; Nepal; Bhutan, Africa, Asia, East Africa, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Laos, Malawi, Mozambique, SE Asia, South Africa, Southern Africa, Swaziland, Thailand, Zambia, Zimbabwe,

How it is used

Food

Rating: 2

Leaves - cooked.

Medicine

Rating: 2

Various parts of the plant are used medicinally throughout its geographical range. The bark is a powerful astringent, febrifuge, tonic, and antiperiodic. It is used to treat chronic dysentery and wounds. A resinous gum obtained from the bark is used to treat boils. The flowers are emmenagogue.

Antiperiodic: Counteracts recurring illnesses such as malaria.

Astringent: Produces contraction in living tissue, reducing the flow of secretions and discharges of blood, mucus, diarrhoea etc.

Dysentery: Used in treating dysentery - an infection of the intestines that causes diarrhoea containing blood or mucus.

Emmenagogue: Promotes or increases the menstrual flow. In early stages of pregnancy it can induce an abortion.

Febrifuge: Reduces fevers.

Skin: Plants used in miscellaneous treatments for the skin.

Tonic: Improves general health. Slower acting than a stimulant, it brings steady improvement.

Other

Rating: 4

Shade tree. Street tree. Public open space. Timber tree. Agroforestry Uses: Mountain cedar has been used in reforestation projects and is also planted to provide firebreaks. Other Uses The flowers contain a red colouring matter and also a sulphur-coloured dye. Cotton and woollen fabric can be dyed a dull yellow by mere immersion in a boiling extract of the flowers. Used in conjunction with safflower and turmeric, they produce a sulphur-yellow colour. The bark contains tannin. A fibre obtained from the bark has been used traditionally for twines and the manufacture of string bags. An aromatic oil can be extracted from the fruit. Some extracts from the bark have insect-repellent properties. Extracts from the bark, heartwood and leaves apparently have insecticidal qualities. The wood is used for shiitake mushroom culture. The heartwood is pale brown, cedar brown, dark red-brown or brick red when first cut, darkening upon exposure to a rich reddish-brown with darker brown streaks. The sapwood is pinkish-white, red or pale yellow-brown, it smells strongly of cedar when cut. The grain is generally straight to somewhat interlocked, the texture moderately close and uneven, and the wood lustrous. A strong, fragrant, long-lasting spicy odour is usually present. The wood is moderately hard, lightweight, tough and durable. Staining is satisfactory, and the timber takes both water- and oil-based paints well. The wood has a variety of uses such as for carvings, boat building, cabinet making, cigar boxes, matchboxes, decorative plywood and veneer, food containers, high-grade furniture, interior trim, joinery, musical instruments, ornamental work, panelling, boxes and crates, building materials, exterior uses, millwork, mouldings. The timber of this species has always been highly regarded in the manufacture of light-weight racing boats particularly sailing boats and dinghies.

Dye: Plants that provide dyes.

Essential: Essential oils that are used in perfumery, medicines, paint solvents, insect repellents etc.

Furniture: A few miscellaneous uses that do not fit easily into other headings.

Insecticide: Kills insects.

Plant breeding: Used in producing new species of plants or improved varieties.

String: Plants that can be used for string or can be easily made into a string. See also Fibre. Plants for ropes may be included.

Tannin: An astringent substance obtaied from plants, it is used medicinally, as a dye and mordant, stabilizer in pesticide etc.

Wood: A list of the trees and shrubs that are noted for having useful wood.

Scented Plants: Plants noted for their scent

How it is grown

A plant of the moist to wet tropics and subtropics, where it is found at elevations from 400 - 2,800 metres. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 18 - 34°c, but can tolerate 8 - 48°c. When dormant, the plant can survive temperatures down to about -3°c, but young growth can be severely damaged at 0°c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,100 - 3,000mm, but tolerates 750 - 4,500mm. Young trees require some protection from direct sun, but become more light demanding as they grow older. Prefers a rich, deep, water-retentive soil. Does not do well on wet, compacted or poor sandy ones. Prefers a pH in the range 5.5 - 6.5, tolerating 4.5 - 7.5. Widely grown as a timber tree, it has wind-dispersed seeds and has become naturalized in some areas. It needs to be monitored for potential invasiveness. Toona ciliata grows rapidly. In Hawaii an average tree height of 10 metres and an average bole diameter of 9.6 cm had been reached after 8.7 years. Trees may reach a height of 35 metres with a bole diameter of 70 cm when 40 years old. In plantations in tropical Africa, growth declines seriously after 40 years. Trees planted in open localities may already flower and produce seed after 6 years. It coppices well and produces plentiful root suckers. The tree has a spreading superficial root system, which may have adverse effects on the growth of agricultural crops. The tendency to become branchy should be controlled by close initial spacing. Thinning is required from the 4th year, and thereafter every 5 years. A very variable tree. Flowering: early spring, mid spring, late spring. Bloom Color: red, pink, white.

Propagating it: Seed - germinates quicker and better under shade. It should be broadcast thinly on raised and shaded nursery beds soon after collection. Germination takes 8 - 15 days and fresh seed has a germination rate of 50 - 80%. Natural regeneration is profuse even in areas outside its natural range. Good natural reproduction can be induced by clearing the ground in the vicinity of seed bearers. Orthodox seed storage behaviour; 90% germination after 12 months? storage in polythene bags at 5 - 8°c with 34-12.9% mc; complete loss of viability after 3 months at room temperature.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Tree

Hardiness: 9-12

Growth: Fast

Soil: Medium, heavy (clay)

Shade: Full shade, semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Moist, wet

Things to keep in mind

Sawdust from machining operations has been reported to cause dermatitis in some individuals.

Widely grown as a timber tree, it has wind-dispersed seeds and has become naturalized in some areas. It needs to be monitored for potential invasiveness

Its other names

Local names

Kuruk, Mahaneem, Mahanim, Malarveppu, Mandurike, Mathagiri, Moulmein cedar, Nandichettu, Nandivriksha, Poma, Santhanavembu, Tawtama, Thevatharam, Todu, Tun, Tundu, Tuni, Tunna, Tunumaram, australian red-cedar, australian-cedar, henduri poma, hong chun, indian mahogany, moulmain cedar, poma, red cedar, red-cedar, thooniyanoikam, toon, toon tree, toona, toonboom, toontree, tuni.

Synonyms

Cedrela australis F.Muell. Cedrela australis Mudie Cedrela kingii C.DC. Cedrela kingii birmanica C.D