Widdringtonia schwarzii (Willowmore cedar)

Baviaanskloof-seder [Afrikaans]

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Gymnospermae > Coniferophyta > Cupressaceae > Widdringtonia

A tree of about 17-30 m in height but some old specimens have been recorded as reaching a height of 37 m.

Distribution and habitat

The distribution of this species is confined to the low-rainfall areas of the Baviaanskloof and Kouga mountains where it is found in rocky ravines at an elevation of about 900 m (Palgrave and Palgrave 2002). This species is similar in appearance to Widdringtonia cedarbergensis (Clanwilliam cedar).

Uses

• The wood is of a high quality (beautiful and durable) and most of the large, accessible trees were harvested in the past. Examples of this wood can be seen in beams and panels of old farm houses in the Baviaanskloof (Palmer and Pitman 1972).

Conservation

Excessive harvesting of this species in the past, as well as frequent, man-induced, fires, has led to most specimens of this tree being limited to inaccessable rocky outcrops and kloofs. However, there has evidently been more natural regeneration of this species than has been the case with Widdringtonia cedarbergensis (Clanwilliam cedar).

References

• Palgrave, K.C. and Palgrave, M.C. 2002. Trees of Southern Africa. 3rd Edition. Struik Publishers, Cape Town.
• Palmer, E. and Pitman, N. 1972. Trees of Southern Africa covering all known indigenous species in the Republic of South Africa, South-West Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. Volume 1. A.A. Balkema, Cape Town.

Text by Hamish Robertson