Editing Cedrus (section)

==Description==
[[File:Cedrus atlantica2.jpg|upright|thumb|Foliage of Atlas cedar]]

''Cedrus'' trees can grow up to 30–40&nbsp;m (occasionally 60&nbsp;m) tall with spicy-resinous scented [[wood]], thick ridged or square-cracked [[Bark (botany)|bark]], and broad, level branches.  The shoots are dimorphic and are made up of long shoots, which form the framework of the branches, and short shoots, which carry most of the leaves.  The [[leaf|leaves]] are [[evergreen]] and needle-like, 8–60&nbsp;mm long, arranged in an open spiral [[phyllotaxis]] on long shoots, and in dense spiral clusters of 15–45 together on short shoots; they vary from bright grass-green to dark green to strongly glaucous pale blue-green, depending on the thickness of the white wax layer which protects the leaves from desiccation.  The [[Conifer cone|seed cones]] are barrel-shaped, 6–12&nbsp;cm long and 3–8&nbsp;cm broad, green maturing grey-brown, and, as in [[Fir|''Abies'']], disintegrate at maturity to release the winged [[seed]]s.  The seeds are 10–15&nbsp;mm long, with a 20–30&nbsp;mm wing; as in ''Abies'', the seeds have two or three resin blisters, containing an unpleasant-tasting [[resin]], thought to be a defence against [[squirrel]] predation.  Cone maturation takes one year, with pollination in autumn and the seeds maturing at the same time a year later.  The [[pollen]] cones are slender ovoid, 3–8&nbsp;cm long, produced in late summer, and shed pollen in autumn.<ref name=farjon/><ref name=idsy>Frankis, M. & Lauria, F. (1994).  The maturation and dispersal of cedar cones and seeds. ''International Dendrology Society Yearbook'' 1993: 43–46.</ref>