Cedrus atlantica (Atlas cedar)

Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Family: Pinaceae
Genus: Cedrus
Species: C. atlantica
Binomial name: Cedrus atlantica
Synonyms: C. libani subsp. atlantica
Common: names: Atlas cedar, Blue atlas cedar

Cedrus atlantica is a cedar native to the Atlas Mountains of Morocco (Middle Atlas, High Atlas), to the Rif, and to the Tell Atlas in Algeria in North Africa. C. atlantica is common in cultivation as an ornamental tree in temperate climates.
Fully grown, Cedrus atlantica is a large coniferous evergreen tree, 30–35 m (rarely 40 m) tall, with a trunk diameter of 1.5–2 m. It is usually a loose pyramidal shape when young, becoming more flat-topped with long spreading branches with age.
The cylindrical cone size is rarely over 9 cm long though one of 12 cm has been recorded. The Cedrus atlantica has a needle (leaf) length of 10–25 mm and it is curved toward the tip and they appear in tufted clusters. They range in colour from dark green to silvery-blue. Young shoots are downy.

Blue-needled varieties of Cedrus atlantica are now lumped into one group called the ‘Glauca Group’. Prior designations such as C. atlantica ‘Glauca’ and C. atlantica f. glauca have been eliminated in favour of C. atlantica (Glauca Group).

Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’ photographed at the Tupare Public Gardens, New Plymouth.
1-Atlas cedar Cedrus atlantica-001.JPG


A young tree.
Cedrus atlantica.jpg

Cedrus atlantica foliage with developing female cones.
1- Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’.JPG

Young female cones.
1- Cedrus atlantica ‘Glauca’-001.JPG

Male cones beginning to shed pollen
1-Cedrus atlantica male cones.jpg

Maturing female cone
1-Cedrus atlantica 'Glauca' cone 02 by Line1.jpg

Mature female cone opening to shed seed.
1-Cedrus libani ssp. atlantica 'Glauca Pendula' cone by Line1.jpg 

The trunk.
Atlas cedar Cedrus atlantica trunk.JPG

Thanks to Wikipedia for text and information: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0