Cedrus

Cedrus, commonly known as cedar, is a small genus of one to three species of coniferous trees in the pine family Pinaceae, subfamily Abietoideae, native to the high-altitude mountains of the western Himalayas and the Mediterranean region. True cedars grow into tall trees with a cylindrical trunk and a broad, layered crown, bearing erect cones and clusters of fifteen to forty-five needle leaves that range from bright to blue-green with a waxy protective coating. When mature, the cones disintegrate on the tree to release winged seeds, and both pollen and seed dispersal rely on the wind rather than animals. Cedars are widely cultivated ornamentally and are a popular subject for bonsai; their fragrant wood and cedarwood oil are naturally repellent to moths and retain a long-lasting scent, properties that have made cedar a traditional material for storage chests and closets.