Cedrela fissilis is a species of tree in the family Meliaceae. It is native to Central and South America, where it is distributed from Costa Rica to Argentina.[2] Its common names include Argentine cedar,[2] cedro batata, cedro blanco, "Acaju-catinga" (its Global Trees entry) and cedro colorado.[1]
| Cedrela fissilis | |
|---|---|
,_ou_cedro-rosa,_cedro,_acaiacá._03.jpg) | |
| In Brazil | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Spermatophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Meliaceae |
| Genus: | Cedrela |
| Species: | C. fissilis |
| Binomial name | |
| Cedrela fissilis | |
Once a common lowland forest tree, this species has been overexploited for timber and is now considered to be endangered. A few populations are stable, but many have been reduced, fragmented, and extirpated. The wood is often sold in batches with Cuban cedar (Cedrela odorata).[1]
Taxonomy
editOriginal Description
editCedrela fissilis was first described by José Mariano da Conceição Vellozo in Florae Fluminensis (1829). The original protologue reads (translated):[3]
C. fissilis. Flowers in racemose, compound inflorescences; leaves hairy beneath. (Tab. 68.a T. 2) Observations. Both species yield timber of the highest quality for construction. It is said that on the Island of São Sebastião there stands a Cedrela of such enormous size that from it a boat (scapha) could be made measuring 11 palms in width. For this to be true, the trunk would necessarily have a circumference of 44 palms.
Taxonomic history
editCedrela brasiliensis was first described by Antoine Laurent de Jussieu in Flora Brasiliensis Meridionalis (1829), based on material collected in Minas Gerais, Brazil.[5] Jussieu distinguished a southern variant, var. australis, from specimens near Montevideo, noting denser pubescence on the branches, petioles, peduncles, and petals, and questioned whether this form might represent a distinct species. Both C. brasiliensis and its variety australis are now regarded as synonyms of C. fissilis.[6][7]
Gallery
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Stem
Leaves
Tree
Young tree
Leaflets
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References
edit- 1 2 3 Barstow, M. (2018). "Cedrela fissilis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018 e.T33928A68080477. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T33928A68080477.en. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
- 1 2 Cedrela fissilis. Germplasm Resources Information Network. USDA ARS.
- ↑ Vellozo, José Mariano da Conceição (1829). Florae Fluminensis (in Latin). Rio de Janeiro: Typographia Nacional. p. 75.
C. fissilis. C. floribus racemosis, compositis, foliis subtus pilosis. (Tab. 68.a T. 2)
- ↑ Vellozo, José Mariano da Conceição (1829). Florae Fluminensis, Icones (in Latin). Vol. 2. Rio de Janeiro: Typographia Nacional. p. 72.
- ↑ Jussieu, Adrien-Henri (1829). Flora Brasiliensis Meridionalis. Vol. 2. Paris: A. St.-Hil. p. 86.
- ↑ "Cedrela brasiliensis var. australis A.Juss". World Flora Online. WCSP (in review). Retrieved 9 December 2025.
- ↑ "Cedrela fissilis Vell". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
https://globaltrees.org/threatened-trees/trees/acaju-catinga/