The Garden’s uncontested patriarch is a majestic tree planted in 1822 in the newly opened garden, it was born from the seeds of the first Cedar of Lebanon arrived in Italy.
Four adult people holding hands forming a circle would give an idea of the size of its trunk, which has a circumference of 6.5 metres at ‘chest level’, or exactly at hugging height. The canopy, called “tabular”, is formed by large flat branches covering a very large surface area and it is supported by tie rods for stability problems. To protect the sensitive surface roots, it is not possible to get close to the trunk.

Italy’s monumental tree (cod: 26/E715/LU/09)
Scientific name: Cedrus libani (L.) A. Rich.
Family: Pinaceae
Estimated age: more than 200 years old
Circumference at 1,30 m: 655 cm
Estimated height: 20 m

The Cedar of Lebanon is native to the mountains of Lebanon, Turkey and Syria where it formed extensive forests now reduced due to the millenary exploitation for timber. It was introduced in Italy to the Botanical Garden of Pisa in 1787.

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On the same plant there are male and female reproductive organs, the former (strobili) are soft and smaller than the latter barrel-shaped (cones or pinecones) that are woody and
located on the highest branches. TOUCH those in the box The Bible often cites the Cedar of Lebanon as a symbol, linking the features of the species to the qualities of strength, grandeur and incorruptibility. In fact, cedar trees can live for millennia, becoming imposing, their wood does not rot easily and they produce an aromatic resin that was used in embalming processes.