Widdringtonia

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Divisio: Tracheophyta
Divisio: Pinophyta
Classis: Pinopsida
Ordo: Pinales

Familia: Cupressaceae
Subfamilia: Callitroideae
Genus: Widdringtonia
Species: W. nodiflora – W. schwarzii – W. wallichii – W. whytei
Name

Widdringtonia Endl., Gen. Pl., Suppl. 2: 25 (1842).

Type species: Widdringtonia cupressoides (L.) Endl., Gen. Pl., Suppl. 2: 25 (1842) (= Widdringtonia nodiflora (L.) E.Powrie, J. S. African Bot. 38: 303 (1972).)

Synonyms

Basionym
Pachylepis Brongn., Ann. Sci. Nat. (Paris) 30: 189 (1833), nom. illeg. (non Lessing, 1832)
Homotypic
Parolinia Endl., Gen. Pl., Suppl. 1: 1372 (1841), nom. illeg. (non Webb, 1840)

References
Primary references

Endlicher, S.L. 1842. Genera Plantarum (Endlicher) 2: 25.

Additional references

Farjon, A. 2010. A Handbook of the World's Conifers. Koninklijke Brill, Leiden. ISBN 90-04-17718-3. Reference page. (2: 264)

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2016. Widdringtonia in World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2016 Dec. 11. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2016. Widdringtonia. Published online. Accessed: Dec. 11 2016.

Vernacular names
English: African cypress
Esperanto: Vidringtonio

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.

They are large shrubs or trees, reaching 5–20 m tall (to 40 m in W. whytei). The leaves are evergreen and scale-like, except on seedlings, which have needle-like leaves 1-1.5 cm long. The adult scale leaves are arranged in decussate opposite pairs in four rows along the twigs, while the juvenile needle leaves are arranged spirally.

The male cones are small, 3–6 mm long, and are located at the tips of the twigs. The female cones start out similarly inconspicuous, maturing in 18–20 months to 2–3 cm long and wide, globular to ovoid, with four, thick, woody scales, arranged in two opposite pairs. 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. In W. whytei 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.
Species

One species is widespread in southern Africa, while the other three have restricted ranges, often occurring with or near to the widespread species.

Image	Scientific name	Distribution
	Widdringtonia nodiflora	Widespread, southern Malawi south to Western Cape Province, South Africa.
	Widdringtonia schwarzii	Endemic, Baviaanskloof and Kouga Mountains (west of Port Elizabeth), Eastern Cape Province, South Africa.
	Widdringtonia wallichii	Endemic to Cederberg Mountains (northeast of Cape Town), Western Cape Province, South Africa.
	Widdringtonia whytei	Endemic, Mulanje Massif, Malawi.

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.
Uses

The wood is light, soft and aromatic. It can be easily split and resists decay. It 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.
References and external links

Pauw, C. A. & Linder, H. P. 1997. Widdringtonia systematics, ecology and conservation status. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 123: 297–319.
Recommended English names for trees of Southern Africa (archive)
Arboretum de Villardebelle - Photos of cones