Widdringtonia is a genus of coniferous trees in the Cupressaceae ( cypress family). The name was Austrian botanist Stephan Endlicher 's way of honouring an early expert on the coniferous forests of Spain, Capt. Samuel Edward Widdrington (1787–1856). There are four species, all native to southern Africa , where they are known as cedars or African cypresses .
17-763: Widdringtonia nodiflora ( mountain cypress ) is a species of Widdringtonia native to Southern Africa . It usually grows at high altitudes, typically among rocks on mountainsides. Its foliage and wood are highly flammable while its natural habitat is prone to fire. To compensate, the species will coppice from its roots after being burnt down. It is an evergreen multistemmed shrub or small to rarely medium-sized tree growing to 5–7 m (rarely to 25 m) tall. The leaves are scale-like, 1.5–2 mm long and 1-1.5 mm broad on small shoots, up to 10 mm long on strong-growing shoots, and arranged in opposite decussate pairs. The cones are globose, 1–2 cm long, with four scales. Each tree produces both male and female cones. It
34-493: A fragmentation within the structure and heavy selection within the leftover mature trees within the population structure. Another hypothesis is that current selection for the mature trees is poorly adapted to fire intensive environments causing lack of genetic variation within the gene pool and heavy selection for those traits occurs. Upon further observations, it is not the mature trees themselves that are not fire resistant but their seed recruitment and lack of. Inbreeding within
51-444: A year. It makes a good container plant and ornamental tree. It also grows well in a cool or wet climate and it is resistant to frost. New World Species : Widdringtonia This genus contains large evergreen shrubs and trees , reaching 5–20 m tall (to 40 m in W. whytei ). Juveniles have needle-like leaves that are arranged in spirals. The scale-like leaves in adults are arranged in decussate opposite pairs in four rows along
68-603: Is a species of Widdringtonia native to South Africa , where it is endemic to the Cederberg Mountains northeast of Cape Town in Western Cape Province . Due to harsh weather conditions, like limited rainfall and frequent wildfires, growth is limited. Ring width almost correlates with rainfall due to such harsh environmental conditions It is threatened by habitat loss and protected in South Africa under
85-405: Is no dormancy period of the seeds after dispersal which leaves them vulnerable and sometimes unviable. One of the methods of population growth and conservation of W. wallichii is use of fire. Using calculated levels of fire during natural seed release which occurs in late summer and beginning autumn will assist in reduction of litter affecting seed dispersal. Litter during these periods inhibits
102-515: Is the only widespread species in its genus, and the only one not threatened or endangered. It is closely related to the endangered cypress ("Cedar") of the Cederberg mountains . As its name suggests, the Mountain Cypress is usually found at high altitudes on mountainsides, growing among rocks, and in gullies, typically in mountain fynbos and grassland. They normally occur in small groups, like
119-500: Is unique in the genus in its ability to coppice , readily re-sprouting from burnt or cut stumps; this enables it to survive wildfires , and is considered a major factor in allowing its abundance relative to the other species in the genus. Its wood is highly flammable - another adaptation for its fire-prone environment. It occurs naturally from Table Mountain in the south, to southern Malawi , southern Mozambique , eastern Zimbabwe and throughout eastern and southern South Africa . It
136-598: Is used for cosmetics like perfumes, aftershave lotions, and soaps. Cedarwood oil is also used in home remedies. The essential oil derived from leaves contains terpinen-4-ol (36.0%), sabinene (19.2%), γ-terpinene (10.4%), α-terpinene (5.5%) and myrcene (5.5%). The wood oil contains thujopsene (47.1%), α-cedrol (10.7%), widdrol (8.5%) and cuparene (4.0%). W. wallichii is an endangered species facing population decline. Reasons for such declines are habitat loss and inbreeding within populations. Habitat loss due to harsh environmental conditions. Wildfires occur in
153-402: Is used to make furniture, indoor and outdoor panelling, and fence posts. That of W. whytei was particularly valuable as it was available in large sizes, but this species is now endangered and no longer cut to any extent. New World Species : Widdringtonia wallichii Widdringtonia wallichii , Clanwilliam cedar or Clanwilliam cypress , previously Widdringtonia cedarbergensis
170-406: Is widespread in southern Africa, while the other three have restricted ranges, often occurring with or near to the widespread species. The closest relatives of Widdringtonia are Callitris and Actinostrobus from Australia , which differ in their cones and leaves being in whorls of three, not opposite pairs. The wood is light, soft and aromatic. It can be easily split and resists decay. It
187-652: The National Forest Act (Act 84) of 1998. It is a small evergreen tree growing to 5–7 m (rarely to 20 m) tall. The leaves are scale-like, 1.5 mm long and 1 mm broad on small shoots, up to 15 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. W. wallichii is used in a cedarwood oil with multiple uses such as in Texas, it used as feedstock and in Virginia it
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#1732868940317204-408: The area causing W. wallichii mature trees to die frequently. W. wallichii growth rate is slower compared to their counterparts which is a factor in population decline of the species. Genetically, there are some hypotheses on why W. wallichii is not as fire resistant as some of the other within the genus and one of them is heavy logging. Heavy logging the current population is subjected to causes
221-420: The base of each scale. The cones become woody as they mature. The cones mostly remain closed on the trees for many years, opening only after being scorched by a wildfire ; this then releases the seeds to grow on the newly cleared burnt ground. They open at four very thick valves that correspond to the four scales. Each cone produces few seeds. They are wing with hard test and two cotyledons. In W. whytei
238-531: The cones open soon after maturity to shed the seed without fire; this species is more sensitive to fire and only grows in moister situations where it is protected from fire. The best adapted to fire is W. nodiflora , which has the ability to re-grow from the roots, as well as by seed. W. whytei Rendle (Mulanje cedar) W. nodiflora (von Linné) Powrie (Mountain cypress) W. schwarzii (Marloth) Masters (Willowmore cedar) W. wallichii Endlicher ex Carrière (Clanwilliam cedar) One species
255-507: The little forest of them on the mountain above Kirstenbosch . Planted in a pot, this tree makes an interesting (and reusable) southern hemisphere christmas tree . The Mountain Cypress makes an attractive, water-wise and environmentally friendly indigenous alternative to the pine tree . This tree can be propagated from seed, sown during autumn in well-drained sand. The seeds germinate relatively well, over several weeks. It grows about 0.3 meters
272-430: The population of W. wallichii due to self pollination because of lack of movement of pollen which further fragments the population. Seed dispersal is difficult which limits the success of fertilization in W. wallichii . The seeds are left under the canopy of mature trees and waiting for the winds and runoff water. Other modes of dispersal like small animals are not likely to assist in the process of larger seeds. There
289-448: The twigs. The plants are dioecious. The small male cones grow at the ends of twigs. The scales have no stalks. They grow into an upward, decreasing beak with two to six pollen sacs at the base of the cone. The female cones are small and stalkless and grow in short spikes on the branches. The scales grow in two opposite rows that spread at the base during pollination. They then close into a corky, leathery cone with five or more ovules at
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