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Clicking any heading in the main data area (at right) will scroll the page back to this top position. Use the following links to jump to the associated section in the main data. Blunting Effect Comments Common Names Common Uses Countries of Distribution Distribution Overview Drying Defects Ease of Drying Environmental Profile Family Name Gluing Grain Heartwood Color Kiln Drying Rate Luster Movement in Service Nailing Natural Durability Numerical Data Odor Painting Planing Polishing Product Sources References Regions of Distribution Resin Content Resistance to Impregnation Response to Hand Tools Sapwood Color Scientific Name Screwing Staining Strength Properties Substitutes Texture Trade Name Tree Size Varnishing Veneering Qualities Scientific Name Cedrus libani Trade Name Cedar of Lebanon Family Name Cupressaceae Common Names Cedar of Lebanon, Cedre du Liban, Cedro del Libano, True cedar Regions of Distribution Mediterranean Sea Region, North America, Western Europe Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP] Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States Common Uses Building construction, Building materials, Decorative plywood, Decorative veneer, Door, Exterior uses, Interior construction, Joinery, Paneling , Utility furniture Environmental Profile Data source is World Conservation Monitoring Center The status of C. libani ssp. libani in the wild is currently listed as unknown because of lack of adequate information, but the conservation status of another subspecies of Cedar of Lebanon C. libani ssp. brevifolia is rare within its natural growth habitat Distribution Overview Originally native to Asia Minor. Currently found in the Jebel Alaonite mountains in Syria, and Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon in Lebanon, where it is now very rare (there are about 2000-3000 ha of forests of this species), but it is still plentiful in the Taurus and Cilician Taurus in Turkey. It grows between 1300 and 2100 m elevation. Quite hardy, this light-demanding and calciphile species grows rather slowly. This well-known Biblical tree was used by King Solomon to build his temple at Jerusalem about the year 1000 BC. Heartwood Color White Yellow Orange Brown Red The color of the heartwood is described as warm brown, with clear distinction between the darker and denser latewood zones and paler earlywood regions. Pockets of in-grown bark are rather common, as in all cedars Sapwood Color Red Yellow White The thin sapwood is described as whitish in color. Grain Even Closed Grain is usually straight but there may be grain deviation around knots. The outer edges of annual rings are characteristically wavy or rippled, which adds to the attractive appearance of the grain Texture Coarse Medium Fine to medium The timber is described as soft and light Luster Medium Natural Durability Susceptible to insect attack Non-durable Non-resistant to powder post beetles Perishable Non-resistant to termites Natural oil in the heartwood makes it resistant to attack by decay fungi, but it is susceptible to attack by the pinhole borer and longhorn beetle, as well as Sirex Odor Natural oils in the wood have a distinct fragrance resembling incense, and are distilled for use in perfumes Resin Content Resin in fine canals may exude on the wood surface during steam bending operations Drying Defects Slight twist/warp Ease of Drying Rapidly Easy Kiln Drying Rate Drying rate is fairly rapid to fast Naturally dries quickly Rapid Tree Size Tree height is 30-40 m Bole length is 20-30 m Trunk diameter is 100-150 cm Tree height is 40-50 m Bole length is 0-10 m Bole length is 10-20 m Product Sources The material is very scarce since the only current sources are confined to the eastern groves and trees that are occasionally harvested from gardens. Large logs, when available are radially sliced into highly attractive and decorative veneers. Timber trees found in the United Kingdom are mainly in the parks and are usually very knotty, which limits their uses. A Cedars of Lebanon National Park has been created by the government of Lebanon to protect the species, partly for historic interest and also as a tourist attraction. Supplies of Cedar of Lebanon veneers are limited and when available, they are often sold in the price range of the more expensive softwoods. Substitutes Cedrillo (Huertea cubensis) Comments Numerous knots are reported to increase wastage considerably Blunting Effect Moderate The wood has little dulling effect on cutting edges Gluing Fairly Easy to Very Easy Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Movement in Service Medium Nailing Pre-Boring Recommended Fairly Difficult to Very Difficult Holds nails well Planing Very Good to Excellent Results Fair to Good Results Planes well, to a good finish Large knots and in-grown bark are reported to cause some difficulty in machining operations Resistance to Impregnation Resistant heartwood Permeable sapwood Permeable heartwood Resistant sapwood Response to Hand Tools Easy to Work Fairly Difficult to Difficult to Work Easy to machine Presence of large knots and in-grown bark may require special attention Screwing Good screw holding properties Veneering Qualities Difficult to veneer Suitable for peeling Veneers moderately easy Suitable for slicing Veneers easily Painting Good results Degreasing recommended Polishing Fair to Good Results Very Good to Excellent Results Good results Staining Fair to Good Results Stains well Varnishing Arnishing characteristics are rated as good, but some surface preparations may be necessary Strength Properties Weight = medium Soft Modulus of Elasticity (stiffness) = low Crushing strength = low Bending strength (MOR) = low Numerical Data Item Green Dry English Specific Gravity 0.52 Weight 33 27. lbs/ft3 Item Green Dry Metric Specific Gravity 0.52 References British Woodworking Federation. 1995. Which Wood . Published by the British Woodworking Federation, Broadway House, Tothill Street, London. Edlin, H.E. 1969. What Wood is That?: A manual of Wood Identification. A Studio Book, The Viking Press, New York Jackson, A. and D. Day. 1992. Good Wood Handbook - The Wood worker's Guide to Identifying, Selecting and Using the Right Wood. HarperCollins Publishers, London. Lincoln, W.A. 1986. World Woods in Color. Linden Publishing Co. Inc. Fresno, California. Little, E.L. 1980. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees - Eastern Region. Published by Arthur A. Knopf, New York. Mitchell, A.F. 1985. Conifers. Forestry Commision Booklet No. 15. Forestry Commission, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, London. WCMC. 1992. Conservation Status Listing: Trees and Timbers of the World. World Conservation Monitoring Center (WCMC, Plants Program, 219 Huntingdon Road, Cambridge, CB3 ODL, United Kingdom.