Kingdom Plantae Class Pinopsida Family Cupressaceae Scientific name Widdringtonia schwarzii | Division Pinophyta Order Pinales Genus Widdringtonia Rank Species | |
Similar Widdringtonia nodiflora, Widdringtonia, Widdringtonia wallichii, Widdringtonia whytei, Callitris monticola | ||
Widdringtonia schwarzii (Willowmore cypress or Willowmore cedar, Afrikaans: Baviaanskloof-seder) 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. The Willowmore Cedar is a protected tree in South Africa.
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.
It was formerly often called "Willowmore cedar" but has been renamed Willowmore cypress to better reflect its botanical relationships.