Greek libos - tear, Cedrus - Cedar; probably referring to tear-like gum exudate.

Evergreen trees with flattened branches and branchlets, the latter forking equally at each division. Leaves scale-like in opposite pairs with the facial and lateral ones clearly different, the facial mostly obscured by the lateral ones which extend down the branchlet at the base. Male and female cones generally solitary and terminal on different branches of the same tree. Female cones with 4 scales, each with a prickle, the fertile ones with 1 or 2 seeds having wings of different sizes.

5 species from New Zealand and New Caledonia.

Three species are grown at the Otway Ridge Arboretum, Victoria.

Li (1953).

Source: Spencer, R. (1995). Cupressaceae. In: Spencer, R.. Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 1, Ferns, conifers & their allies. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.