Widdringtonia nodiflora (Mountain cypress)

[= Widdringtonia cupressoides]

Bergsipres [Afrikaans]

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

Widdringtonia nodiflora (Mountain Cypress) in Mesic Mountain Fynbos, Kleinmond Nature Reserve (Western Cape, South Africa) [photo H. Robertson, Iziko ©].

Large Widdringtonia nodiflora tree at Kirstenbosch, Cape Town [photo H. Robertson, Iziko ©].

Close-up of cones of above tree [photo H. Robertson, Iziko ©].

Close-up of bark of above tree  [photo H. Robertson, Iziko ©].

A bush or small tree, growing to a height of about 9 m but generally a lot lower than this. The size and density of trees is strongly influenced by fire frequency.

Distribution and habitat

Occurs in mountainous regions from Cape Town, through to the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. Populations also occur in Swaziland, the Soutpansberg (Limpopo) and the Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe (including adjacent areas of Mozambique). It is a common tree in fynbos where it is usually low growing due to frequent fires. In moist fynbos fires are less frequent and trees can be larger - for example in the very old fynbos just north of Storms River in the Eastern Cape (on the Tsitsikamma Hiking Trail).

Uses

• The wood is used in hut construction (van Wyk and van Wyk 1997).

• Grown as a garden ornamental tree.

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.
• van Wyk, B. and van Wyk, P. 1997. Field Guide to Trees of Southern Africa. Struik Publishers, Cape Town.

Text by Hamish Robertson