Bwa-yo - Société Audubon Haiti

8 Sed
Species: Cedrela odorata L.
Family: Meliaceae
Synonyms: Cedrela dugessii Watson, C. glaziovii C. DC., C. guianensis Adr. Juss., C.
mexicana M.1. Roemer, C. occidentalis C. DC., C. pavaguariensis Martius, C. sintenisii
DC., C. velloziana MJ. Roemer., Surenus brownei Ktze.
Common Names: H - acajou a planches (kajou planch), acajou femelle (kajoufemel),
cedre (sed), cedre blanc (sed blan), cedre espagnol (sed panyol), cedre rouge; C, RD,
PR - cedro, cedro del pais, cedrohembra, cedro macho; PR - Spanish cedar.
Importance: Cedrela odorata is prized for its valuable aromatic wood. In Haiti, as
elsewhere in the tropical America, the species is exploited heavily for domestic use or
for sale in the urban market. The tree provides a wide variety ofproducts and services,
making it a good choice for traditional perennial-orientedcropping systems. Because of
the value ofthe wood, local populations have been reduced severely. Optimal conditions
necessary for natural regeneration are deteriorating, thus adding importance to continued
efforts in provenance testing and genetic conservation ofthe species in Haiti.
Taxonomy and Botanical Features: The genus Cedrela has involved several systematic
revisions, causing some confusion in the taxonomy of C. odorata L. Styles (1981)
reduced the number of species within the genus to 7 and considers 28 other named
species, including C. mexicana M. 1. Roem., as C. odorata. Naturally, there is a significant
amount of population variation in the species, with differences expressed in the
bark, foliage and wood. The common native variety is close in appearance to the provenances
imported from Colombia and Costa Rica and is distinguished as sed wouj (red
cedar). Characteristic features include a rough fissured bark, reddish-green color ofnew
growth, and sessile leaflets. In contrast, the provenances from Honduras, Belize and
Guatemala exhibit a light green color ofnew growth, smoother bark, larger leaflets with
petioles, and varying degrees ofpubescence. Mature trees of this variety are less common
in Haiti and are known as sed blan (white cedar). Both varieties have alternate
leaves, about 20-60 em long, consisting of 8-20 pairs of elliptical leaflets. The inconspicuous
flowers are 4-parted, greenish-white, and about 10-16 mm across. Seeds are
borne in a reddish-brown capsule, are nearly round with light-colored dots, 16-20 mm
in diameter, and split into four parts to release 30--40 winged seeds. Tree parts give off
a bitter, characteristic scent that smells like garlic (Little and Wadsworth, 1964).
Distribution and Ecology: The natural distribution ofthe species extends from Mexico
and the Caribbean to Argentina (Longwood, 1962; Smith, 1965). Optimum growth conditions
for the species are found in the moist forest, with annual precipitation of
1200-1800 mm and 4-5 dry months. The majority ofthe remnant population in Haiti is
located in the mountain elevations extending from 200-800 m elevation and over 1500
mm rainfall. However, scattered native populations have been located in drier habitats,
such as Bombardopolis (900 mm rainfall) and on coastal plains of wetter locations,
including the Plaine du Nord, Cayes, Petit-Goave, Arcahaie and Anse-a-Veaux regions.
The tree usually is seen isolated among other tree species of the subtropical moist forest,
occuring near ravines and courtyard gardens. Occasionally, stands of C. odorata are
found as shade for coffee groves.
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