| Widdringtonia schwarzii | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Pinophyta |
| Class: | Pinopsida |
| Order: | Pinales |
| Family: | Cupressaceae |
| Genus: | Widdringtonia |
| Species: | W. schwarzii |
| Binomial name | |
| 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]