Red cedar (Toona ciliata, Fam. Nat. Syn. Monogr. 1: 139 (1846))

Family: Meliaceae

Author: M.Roem.

Bibliography: Fam. Nat. Syn. Monogr. 1: 139 (1846)

Year: 1846

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Toona

Vegetable: Unknown

Observations: S. China to Trop. Asia

Description

The Red cedar, scientifically known as Toona ciliata, is a significant member of the Meliaceae family. This species, described by M.Roem. in his seminal 1846 work Fam. Nat. Syn. Monogr. (Volume 1, page 139), is a large deciduous tree known for its imposing stature and fine quality timber.

Toona ciliata is distributed from Southern China through to tropical regions of Asia, flourishing in a variety of climates across this extensive range. The tree can grow up to heights ranging between 20 to 40 meters, characterized by its broad, spreading canopy. The bark is typically fissured and of a reddish-brown hue, which peels away in long strips, providing a glimpse of its inner smooth surface.

The leaves of the Red cedar are pinnate, comprised of multiple leaflets that exhibit a slightly serrated edge and a vibrant green color. As a deciduous tree, it sheds its leaves seasonally, often turning a striking yellow or red before they fall, adding to the visual appeal of the landscapes it inhabits.

Flowering in clusters, the blooms of the Red cedar are small, white to pinkish in color, and emit a pleasant fragrance that attracts various pollinators. Following the flowering season, it produces elongated, woody seed capsules that split open when ripe, releasing numerous winged seeds that are dispersed by wind.

The timber of Toona ciliata is highly valued for its workability and aesthetic qualities. It is lightweight, yet strong and durable, making it an excellent choice for fine furniture, cabinetry, and decorative veneers. The reddish hue of the wood, combined with its smooth texture, contributes to its desirability in the timber market.

In addition to its economic value, the Red cedar has cultural and medicinal importance in various regions. Portions of the tree are utilized in traditional medicine, where they are believed to possess properties beneficial for treating a range of ailments.

Red cedar’s adaptability and resilience make it an important species for forestry and ecological projects, providing significant benefits such as habitat for wildlife, erosion control, and contribution to the local biodiversity.

Thus, Toona ciliata stands as a botanical marvel, beloved both for its functional applications and its intrinsic natural beauty, thriving in diverse environments from the southern reaches of China to the tropical expanses of Asia.

Common Names

Eng: australian red-cedar, australian redcedar, australian-cedar, red-cedar, toon, toontree, red cedar, chinese mahogany
Por: cedro-australiano, cedro-vermelho-da-austrália
Swe: toon
Afr: toonboom
Zho: hong chun
Msa: limpaga
Ind: suren kapar, kukoru
En: Red Cedar, Australian redcedar, Australian red-cedar, Australian-cedar, Red-cedar, Toon, Toontree, Chinese mahogany
Af: Toonboom
Ar: سيدريلا تونا
Zh: Hong Chun
Fr: Cèdre rouge d’Australie
Id: Suren kapar, Kukoru
Kn: ಗಂಧಗರಿಗೆ
Lt: Raudonasis indenis
Ms: Limpaga
Ml: ചന്ദനവേമ്പ്
Ne: टुनी
Or: ଗୟା ଅଶ୍ଵତ୍ଥ
Fa: ماهون هندی
Pt: Cedro-australiano, Cedro-vermelho-da-austrália
Sv: Toon
Te: నందివృక్షము
Vi: Hồng xuân

Synonyms

• Cedrela toona var. gamblei (C.DC.)
• Toona ciliata subsp. nepalensis ((C.DC.) Panigrahi)
• Toona ciliata var. pilipetala ((C.DC.) N.C.Nair & Kumari)
• Cedrela toona var. puberula (C.DC.)
• Cedrela kingii var. birmanica (C.DC.)
• Swietenia toona ((Roxb. ex Rottler & Willd.) Stokes)
• Cedrela toona var. pubescens (Franch.)
• Cedrela toona var. nepalensis (C.DC.)
• Toona ternatensis ((Miq.) Bahadur)
• Cedrela multijuga (Kurz)
• Cedrela serrulata (Miq.)
• Cedrela toona var. sublaxiflora (C.DC.)
• Cedrela toona var. multijuga (Haines)
• Dracontomelon multijugum (Radlk. ex C.DC.)
• Cedrela toona var. yunnanensis (C.DC.)
• Toona hexandra var. haslettii ((Haines) S.M.Almeida & M.R.Almeida)
• Toona microcarpa var. pilipetala ((C.DC.) Bahadur)
• Toona hexandra var. griffithiana ((Pierre) S.M.Almeida & M.R.Almeida)
• Cedrela australis (F.Muell.)
• Cedrela kingii (C.DC.)
• Cedrela toona var. stracheyi (C.DC.)
• Toona ciliata var. brevipetiolulata ((Haines) S.C.Mishra & Panigrahi)
• Toona ciliata var. multijuga ((Kurz) Panigrahi & S.C.Mishra)
• Surenus teysmannii ((Hassk.) Kuntze)
• Cedrela toona var. deccana (C.DC.)
• Toona ciliata var. sublaxiflora ((C.DC.) C.Y.Wu)
• Toona kingii ((C.DC.) Harms)
• Toona hexandra (M.Roem.)
• Cedrela toona var. vestita (C.T.White)
• Cedrela toona var. grandiflora (C.DC.)
• Toona ciliata subsp. velutina ((DC.) Bahadur)
• Toona mannii ((C.DC.) Harms)
• Toona hexandra var. pubinervis ((C.DC.) S.M.Almeida & M.R.Almeida)
• Toona hexandra var. parviflora ((Benth.) S.M.Almeida & M.R.Almeida)
• Toona ciliata var. parviflora ((Benth.) Bahadur)
• Toona hexandra var. mollis ((Hand.-Mazz.) S.M.Almeida & M.R.Almeida)
• Toona ciliata var. hexandra ((M.Roem.) Bahadur)
• Toona australis ((Kuntze) Harms)
• Cedrela mollis (Hand.-Mazz.)
• Toona sureni var. teysmannii ((Hassk.) Bahadur)
• Cedrela toona var. pilipetala (C.DC.)
• Toona sureni var. cochinchinensis ((Pierre) Bahadur)
• Cedrela toona var. talbotii (C.DC.)
• Toona ciliata var. latifolia ((C.DC.) Chandrab.)
• Cedrela toona var. warburgii (C.DC.)
• Cedrela toona var. australis ((Kuntze) C.DC.)
• Toona mollis ((Hand.-Mazz.) A.Chev.)
• Toona serrulata ((Miq.) Harms)
• Toona ciliata var. pubescens ((Franch.) Hand.-Mazz.)
• Cedrela toona var. parviflora (Benth.)
• Cedrela febrifuga var. cochinchinensis ((Pierre) C.DC.)
• Cedrela toona var. listeri (C.DC.)
• Toona febrifuga var. cochinchinensis (Pierre)
• Cedrela febrifuga (Forsten)
• Surenus australis (Kuntze)
• Cedrela toona var. pubinervis (C.DC.)
• Cedrela toona var. hainesii ((C.DC.) Haines)
• Toona hexandra var. gamblei ((C.DC.) S.M.Almeida & M.R.Almeida)
• Cedrela brevipetiolulata (Haines)
• Cedrela hexandra (Wall.)
• Toona ciliata var. vestita ((C.T.White) Bahadur)
• Toona hexandra var. listeri ((C.DC.) S.M.Almeida & M.R.Almeida)
• Cedrela toona var. cuspidata (C.DC.)
• Toona ciliata var. mollis ((Hand.-Mazz.) Bahadur)
• Toona ciliata var. hainesii ((C.DC.) Panigrahi & S.C.Mishra)
• Toona ciliata var. kingii ((C.DC.) Bahadur)
• Cedrela hainesii (C.DC.)
• Toona ciliata var. pubinervis ((C.DC.) Bahadur)
• Toona febrifuga var. ternatensis (Pierre)
• Surenus toona ((Roxb. ex Rottler & Willd.) Kuntze)
• Toona hainesii ((C.DC.) Harms)
• Toona ciliata var. yunnanensis ((C.DC.) C.Y.Wu)
• Toona microcarpa ((C.DC.) Harms)
• Cedrela velutina (DC.)
• Cedrela tuna (Oken)
• Toona ciliata var. velutina ((DC.) Bahadur)
• Cedrela toona (Roxb. ex Rottler & Willd.)
• Surenus serrulata ((Miq.) Kuntze)
• Cedrela toona var. pilistaminea (C.DC.)
• Toona febrifuga var. griffithiana (Pierre)
• Cedrela teysmannii (Hassk.)
• Surenus microcarpa (Kuntze)
• Toona hexandra var. kingii ((C.DC.) S.M.Almeida & M.R.Almeida)
• Cedrela mannii (C.DC.)
• Cedrela toona var. latifolia (C.DC.)
• Cedrela toona var. haslettii (Haines)
• Toona hexandra subsp. velutina ((DC.) S.M.Almeida & M.R.Almeida)
• Toona ciliata var. listeri ((C.DC.) Bahadur)
• Toona ciliata var. haslettii ((Haines) Bahadur)
• Toona sureni var. pubescens ((Franch.) Chun ex F.C.How & T.C.Chen)
• Toona ciliata var. australis ((Kuntze) Bahadur)

Distribution

• Pakistan (native)
• Philippines (native)
• Sulawesi (native)
• Sumatera (native)
• Thailand (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• Assam (native)
• Bangladesh (native)
• Bismarck Archipelago (native)
• Borneo (native)
• Cambodia (native)
• China South-Central (native)
• China Southeast (native)
• East Himalaya (native)
• Hainan (native)
• India (native)
• Jawa (native)
• Laos (native)
• Lesser Sunda Is. (native)
• Malaya (native)
• Maluku (native)
• Myanmar (native)
• Nepal (native)
• New Guinea (native)
• Pakistan (native)
• Philippines (native)
• Sulawesi (native)
• Sumatera (native)
• Thailand (native)
• Vietnam (native)
• Afghanistan (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Kenya (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Malawi (introduced)
• Mozambique (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Solomon Is. (introduced)
• St.Helena (introduced)
• Tanzania (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Uganda (introduced)
• Afghanistan (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Gulf of Guinea Is. (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• Kenya (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Malawi (introduced)
• Mozambique (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Puerto Rico (introduced)
• Solomon Is. (introduced)
• St.Helena (introduced)
• Tanzania (introduced)
• Trinidad-Tobago (introduced)
• Uganda (introduced)

Additional Images

Bark

Taken Nov 21, 2019 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Taken Dec 29, 2021 by Flor Alex (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 7, 2022 by Luis Elias Chahua Janampa (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 22, 2022 by Jaider Arenas (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 22, 2021 by Boris Therock (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken May 14, 2022 by Asthi Nur Sulistyowati (cc-by-sa)

Taken Sep 1, 2022 by 桓楹 廖 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 22, 2021 by Boris Therock (cc-by-sa)

Taken Oct 9, 2019 by that’s someguy (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 16, 2022 by Carro Ana María (cc-by-sa)

Habit

Taken Jul 26, 2008 by Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh – Mark Francis Watson (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jul 26, 2008 by Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh – Mark Francis Watson (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jul 26, 2008 by Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh – Mark Francis Watson (cc-by-nc)

Taken Jul 26, 2008 by Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh – Mark Francis Watson (cc-by-nc)

Taken Oct 22, 2021 by Boris Therock (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken Nov 21, 2019 by Dieter Albrecht (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Oct 22, 2021 by Boris Therock (cc-by-sa)

Fruit

Taken Feb 28, 2022 by Thiago Flores Flores (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 28, 2022 by Thiago Flores Flores (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 1, 2022 by Davalos Marcos (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 15, 2008 by Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh – Anonymous (cc-by-nc)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/3190472)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:579299-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Toona ciliata M.Roem.)

Specifications

Growth