Kyalbang (Deodar Cedar)

Cedrus deodara (Deodar Cedar) Vernacular name: Kyalbang (in Kinnauri); Devdar (in Hindi)

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Click here to watch a short video about this species

Cedrus deodara locally known as Kyalbang (in Kinnauri) and Deodar (in Hindi), is a coniferous tree endemic to the Western Himalayas. Conifers, i.e. trees that bear their seeds in cones, belong to a group of plants called Gymnosperms - which reproduce only through a “naked seed”, unlike Angiosperms which reproduce by means of flowers and fruits.

Significance Construction: Deodar wood is extensively used in the construction of houses and temples in the western Himalayan region. The name Deodar comes from the Sanskrit word devadār, meaning “tree (dar) of the gods (deva).” In Himachal Pradesh, Deodar wood has been traditionally used in temple construction, including at the Bhimakali Temple at Sarahan (Shimla District). This architectural marvel was built over a century ago using locally sourced stone, slate, and deodar wood, in the kath-kuni style - which features horizontally interlocked planks of wood and stone in its foundation. Such construction is both sustainable and earthquake-resistant, demonstrating the strength and durability of traditional techniques and materials.

Agricultural Utility: The drooping and overlapping branches of deodar are ideal for storing grasses during snowy winters (as practiced in Kinnaur).

Traditional Medicine: In Tibetan medicine, resins and essential oils obtained from the tree are used to treat minor injuries and common colds and are also burned as incense.

EcM association

Kyalbang forms specific ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungal associations which are critical for its survival. The fungi reside in the roots of the deodar sapling and provide nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus to the plant. It also enhances the plant’s tolerance to harsh conditions, such as high salinity and heavy metal-contaminated environments. The specificity of this symbiotic relationship (between the fungi and deodar roots) makes it difficult to successfully grow the saplings in laboratory conditions or to re-plant them successfully. Studies comparing old-growth and new urban deodar forests in China show that EcM fungi are vital for tree growth and regeneration, emphasising the need to preserve soil microbiomes and limit fungicide use to protect these trees and their symbiotic fungi.

Other interesting facts

• Kyalbang (Deodar) is typically monoecious, with both male and female reproductive parts (strobili) on the same tree. However, gender plasticity has been observed, with male-only, female-only, and monoecious trees reported in the Western Himalayas likely influenced by selection pressures like resource availability and habitat conditions. 

• The Cedrus genus is among the few plant genera where fossil evidence exists (Cedrus penzhinaensis from Russia is one such example).

References

1. Wen, Zhugui, et al. "Ectomycorrhizal community associated with Cedrus deodara in four urban forests of Nantong in East China." Frontiers in Plant Science 14 (2023): 1226720.

2. Khanduri, Vinod Prasad, Arun Sukumaran, and Chandra Mohan Sharma. "Gender plasticity uncovers multiple sexual morphs in natural populations of Cedrus deodara (Roxb.) G. Don." Ecological Processes 10.1 (2021): 35.

3. Kumar, Ashwani. (2014). Bhimakali Temple at Sarahan: An architectural marvel. Indian Journal of Applied Research, 4(9), 11–14. 

4. Blokhina, N.I., & Afonin, M. (2007). Fossil wood Cedrus penzhinaensis sp. nov. (Pinaceae) from the Lower Cretaceous of north-western Kamchatka (Russia).

   
   

Link to instagram video: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DEtlHCmCj37/?igsh=Z2x1aGR1eHZucmt3