Barbadoes cedar, Cigar-box wood
Cedrela odorata
Family: Meliaceae
What it is like
A tree. It grows 18 m high and spreads 4.5 m wide. The trunk can be 1.5 m across. It has large buttresses. It has an open canopy. The bark is grey or brown and furrowed. The lower limbs curve down. The leaves have leaflets along the stalk. The leaves are 60 cm long. There are 5-12 pairs of leaflets. The flowers are separately male and female but on the same plant. The flowers are small and tube shaped and cream or green. They are in hanging clusters at the ends of branches. The clusters are 15-50 cm long.
There are 8 Cedrela species. The leaves are used in medicine.
Where it is found
A tropical plant. It suits hardiness zones 10-12. In Fiji it is grown near sea level. In Costa Rica it grows from sea level to about 1,200 m altitude. It grows on dry or wet slopes. It is best in well-composted, moist, well-drained soils. It is damaged by drought or frost.
Countries/locations it is found in
Africa, Amazon, Argentina, Asia, Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Central America (country/location of origin), Costa Rica, China, Costa Rica, Cuba (country/location of origin), Dominica, Dominican Republic, East Africa, El Salvador, Fiji, Grenada, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Indonesia, Jamaica, Lesser Antilles, Martinique, Mexico, Mozambique, North America, Pacific, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Sao Tome and Principe, SE Asia, South America, St. Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Trinidad & Tobago, West Indies (country/location of origin)
How it is used for food
The young leaves are eaten.
A minor food. The tree is a source of honey.
Edible parts
Leaves
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed. They can also be grown by cuttings.
Its other names
Local names
Akuyari, Cede, Ceder, Cedro amargo, Cedro, Pohon sedrela harum, Sedre, Spanish cedar, West Indian cedar
Synonyms
Cedrela cubensis Bisse; Cedrela mexicana M. Roem.; Cedrela sintenisii C. DC.; Surenis brownii (Loef.. ex Kuntze) Kuntze;