Widdringtonia schwarzii
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| Widdringtonia schwarzii | ||||||||||||||
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| Widdringtonia schwarzii (Marloth) Mast. |
Widdringtonia schwarzii (Willowmore Cypress or Willowmore Cedar) is a species of Widdringtonia native to South Africa, where it is endemic to the Baviaanskloof and Kouga Mountains west of Port Elizabeth in Eastern Cape Province; it occurs on dry rocky slopes and crags at 600-1,200 m altitude. It is threatened by habitat loss, particularly by wildfire.[1][2]
It is a medium-sized evergreen tree growing to 20-25 m (formerly known to 40 m) tall. The leaves are scale-like, 1.5 mm long and 1 mm broad on small shoots, up to 10 mm long on strong-growing shoots, and arranged in opposite decussate pairs. The cones are globose to rectangular, 2-3 cm long, with four scales. It is closely related to Widdringtonia cedarbergensis from Western Cape Province, being most easily distinguished by its larger seeds with a short seedwing.[1]
It was formerly often called "Willowmore Cedar" but has been renamed Willowmore Cypress to better reflect its botanical relationships.[3]
[edit] References
- ^ a b Farjon, A. (2005). Monograph of Cupressaceae and Sciadopitys. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. ISBN 1-84246-068-4
- ^ Hilton-Taylor, C. et al. 1998. Widdringtonia schwarzii. Downloaded on 10 July 2007.
- ^ University of the Witwatersrand: Recommended English names for trees of Southern Africa
