Astonishment touched with reverence that’s how Alphonse de Lamartine felt. He saw the Cedars of Lebanon. We stand before a magnificent Cèdre du Liban. It stands tall within Paris’s Jardin des Plantes. This tree isn’t just any tree. It boasts a unique history.
This Cèdre du Liban arrived in France in 1734. The great botanist Bernard de Jussieu brought it here. He did not travel alone. The story of its arrival is quite remarkable. Jussieu received it as a gift. The director of London’s Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew presented it to him.
The pot broke during the journey to France. Ever resourceful, Jussieu placed the seedling in his hat. He carried it carefully to the Jardin du Roi. Now, that garden is known as the Jardin des Plantes.
This Cèdre du Liban is the oldest in France. The English took the original plant from Lebanon. The tree was small enough to fit in a hat. It is estimated to be around 286 years old.
The Cèdre du Liban has earned recognition. It is listed as a historic tree. It also carries the Arbre Remarquable label. The association A.R.B.R.E.S. awarded this label. The Cèdre du Liban stands about 20 meters tall. Its circumference measures 4.70 meters.
Cedrus libani is the tree’s scientific name. It is a conifer. This means its fruits grow as cones. Its leaves consist of needles. These needles form distinctive rosettes.
Bernard de Jussieu lived from 1699 to 1777. He taught botany at the Jardin du Roi. He served during the reign of Louis XV. Georges-Louis Leclerc de Buffon directed the Jardin du Roi then.
You will not find a statue of Jussieu in the Jardin des Plantes. But Lyon’s botanical garden features one. Paris honors him too. A square, street, metro station and university campus bear his name. They are named after Jussieu.
The Cèdre du Liban holds a special place in French history. It represents resilience. It also embodies the spirit of discovery. Its presence enriches the Jardin des Plantes. It inspires awe in all who pass by. The Cèdre du Liban remains a living monument. It connects us to centuries past. Take a moment. Reflect on this tree’s incredible journey.