Taxon: Cedrela odorata L.

Summary

Genus:

Cedrela

Family:

Meliaceae

Nomen number:

9685

Place of publication:

Syst. nat. ed. 10, 2:940. 1759

Typification:

View in Linnean Typification Project

Verified:

11/10/1994 ARS Systematic Botanists.

Accessions:

14 (1 active, 1 available) in National Plant Germplasm System. (Map it)

Other conspecific taxa

Autonyms (not in current use), synonyms and invalid designations

Heterotypic Synonym(s)
Cedrela glaziovii C. DC.
Cedrela mexicana M. Roem.

Images (1 total. Click on image for more.)

Conservation Status

CITES Appendix II – Vulnerable to Extinction

CITES. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendices I, II and III (on-line resource).

CITES Appendix II – Vulnerable to Extinction

CITES. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendices I, II and III (on-line resource).

Reference(s)

Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
APHIS. Agricultural Risk Management System United States Department of Agriculture.
Boutelje, J. B. 1980. Encyclopedia of world timbers, names and technical literature
Brandes, A. F. N. et al. 2020. Endangered species account for 10% of Brazil's documented timber trade. J. Nat. Conservation 55:125821. DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2020.125821. Note: Cedrela odorata, an endangered species, is reported to be transported as part of the legal timber trade within Brazil
CITES. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendices I, II and III (on-line resource).
CITES. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) Appendices I, II and III (on-line resource).
Craker, L. E. & J. E. Simon, eds. 1986-1987. Herbs, spices, and medicinal plants, 2 vols.
Dassanayake, M. D. & F. R. Fosberg, eds. 1980-. A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon.
Finch, K. N. et al. 2022. Cryptic species diversity in a widespread neotropical tree genus: The case of Cedrela odorata. Amer. J. Bot. 109:1622-1640. DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.16064. Note: this study finds support for a core Central America Cedrela odorata with derived populations in South America, from the latter diverged lineages called "South American C. odorata" and C. fissilis
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). 2010. Ecocrop (on-line resource).
Howard, R. 1974-1989. Flora of the lesser Antilles.
Li, H. L. et al., eds. 1975-1979. Flora of Taiwan.
Liberty Hyde Bailey Hortorium. 1976. Hortus third. A concise dictionary of plants cultivated in the United States and Canada
McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Pennington, T. D. & A. N. Muellner. 2010. A monograph of Cedrela (Meliaceae)
Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
Porcher, M. H. et al. Searchable World Wide Web Multilingual Multiscript Plant Name Database (MMPND) (on-line resource).
Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Soukup, J. 1970. Vocabulario de los nombres vulgares de la flora peruana.
Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:802.
Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds
Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).
1961. Webster's third new international dictionary.

Common names

Language	Name	seq	Citation
English	Barbados-cedar	1	Craker, L. E. & J. E. Simon, eds. 1986-1987. Herbs, spices, and medicinal plants, 2 vols.
English	cigar-box-cedar	1	Craker, L. E. & J. E. Simon, eds. 1986-1987. Herbs, spices, and medicinal plants, 2 vols.
English	Mexican-cedar	1	1961. Webster's third new international dictionary.
English	Spanish-cedar	1	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
English	West Indian-cedar	1	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
French	cèdre acajou	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
French	cèdre des barbares	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
German	westindische Zeder	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Spanish	cedro colorado	2	Soukup, J. 1970. Vocabulario de los nombres vulgares de la flora peruana.
Spanish	cedro real	2	Rehm, S. 1994. Multilingual dictionary of agronomic plants
Swedish	cigarrlådeträd	2	Aldén, B., S. Ryman, & M. Hjertson. 2012. Svensk Kulturväxtdatabas, SKUD (Swedish Cultivated and Utility Plants Database; online resource)
Transcribed Chinese	nan mei xiang chun	2	Li, H. L. et al., eds. 1975-1979. Flora of Taiwan.
Transcribed Chinese	yang chun	2	Wu Zheng-yi & P. H. Raven et al., eds. 1994-. Flora of China (English edition).

Distribution

order_code	Status	Continent	Subcontinent	Country	State	Note	Reference
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Chihuahua		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:802.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Durango		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:802.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Nuevo León		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:802.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	San Luis Potosí		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:802.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Sonora		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:802.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Tamaulipas		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:802.
1	Native	Northern America	Northern Mexico	Mexico	Zacatecas		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:802.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Aguascalientes		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:802.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Campeche		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:802.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Chiapas		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:802.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Colima		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:802.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Guanajuato		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:802.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Guerrero		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:802.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Hidalgo		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:802.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Jalisco		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:802.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	México		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:802.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Michoacán de Ocampo		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:802.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Morelos		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:802.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Nayarit		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:802.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Oaxaca		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:802.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Puebla		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:802.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Querétaro		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:802.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Quintana Roo		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:802.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Tabasco		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:802.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:802.
1	Native	Northern America	Southern Mexico	Mexico	Yucatán		Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:802.
1	Native	Southern America	Brazil	Brazil			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Antigua and Barbuda			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Barbados			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Cayman Islands			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Cuba			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Dominica			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Dominican Republic			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Grenada			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Guadeloupe			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Haiti			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Jamaica			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Martinique			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Netherlands Antilles	Curacao		Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	St. Lucia			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	Trinidad and Tobago			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Caribbean	United States	Puerto Rico		Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Belize			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Costa Rica			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	El Salvador			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Guatemala			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Honduras			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Nicaragua			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Central America	Panama			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Northern South America	French Guiana			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Northern South America	Guyana			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Northern South America	Suriname			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Northern South America	Venezuela			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Southern South America	Argentina			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Western South America	Bolivia			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Western South America	Ecuador			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
1	Native	Southern America	Western South America	Peru			Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
2	Cultivated					also cult.
4	Naturalized	Africa		Africa		tropical	Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds
4	Naturalized	Northern America		United States		s.e.	Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds
4	Naturalized	Southern America	Western South America	Ecuador	Galápagos		Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds

Native
Northern America

NORTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Chihuahua, Durango, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Zacatecas]
SOUTHERN MEXICO: Mexico [Aguascalientes, Campeche, Chiapas, Colima, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, México, Michoacán de Ocampo, Morelos, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, Yucatán]

Southern America

CARIBBEAN: Netherlands Antilles [Curacao], Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, Cuba, Cayman Islands, Dominica, Dominican Republic, Guadeloupe, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, St. Lucia, Martinique, Trinidad and Tobago, United States [Puerto Rico]
CENTRAL AMERICA: Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama, El Salvador
NORTHERN SOUTH AMERICA: French Guiana, Guyana, Suriname, Venezuela
BRAZIL: Brazil
WESTERN SOUTH AMERICA: Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru
SOUTHERN SOUTH AMERICA: Argentina

Cultivated (also cult.)
Naturalized
Africa

REGION: Africa (tropical)

Northern America

REGION: United States (s.e.)

Southern America

WESTERN SOUTH AMERICA: Ecuador [Galápagos]

Reference(s)

Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
Villaseñor, J. L. 2016. Checklist of the native vascular plants of Mexico. Rev. Mex. Biodivers. 87:802.
Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds

Economic Uses

Usage	Type	Note	Reference
Environmental	ornamental		Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds
Environmental	shade/shelter	for shade/shelter over coffee	Pennington, T. D. 1981. Meliaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 28:374-384.
Materials	essential oils		Dassanayake, M. D. & F. R. Fosberg, eds. 1980-. A revised handbook to the flora of Ceylon.
Materials	wood	timber	Boutelje, J. B. 1980. Encyclopedia of world timbers, names and technical literature
Medicines	folklore		McGuffin, M., J. T. Kartesz, A. Y. Leung, & A. O. Tucker. 2000. Herbs of commerce, ed. 2 American Herbal Products Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Weed			Weber, E. 2003. Invasive plant species of the world: a reference guide to environmental weeds

Cite as: USDA, Agricultural Research Service, National Plant Germplasm System. 2026. Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN Taxonomy). National Germplasm Resources Laboratory, Beltsville, Maryland.
URL: https://npgstest.ars-grin.gov/gringlobal/taxon/taxonomydetail?id=9685. Accessed 15 April 2026.