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Widdringtonia

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.

Widdringtonia
Widdringtonia whytei
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnospermae
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Cupressales
Family: Cupressaceae
Subfamily: Callitroideae
Genus: Widdringtonia
Endl.
Type species
Widdringtonia cupressoides
(L.) Endl.
Species
Synonyms
  • Pachylepis Brongniart 1833 non Lessing 1832
  • Parolinia Endlicher 1841 non Webb 1840

Description edit

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 the twigs.[1]

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.[1]

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 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.[citation needed] They open at four very thick valves that correspond to the four scales.[1] Each cone produces few seeds. They are wing with hard test and two cotyledons.[1]

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.[citation needed]

Species edit

Phylogeny of Widdringtonia[2][3]

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 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 edit

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 edit

  1. ^ a b c d Phillips, Edwin Percy (1951). The genera of South African flowering plants. South Africa: Government Printer.
  2. ^ Stull, Gregory W.; Qu, Xiao-Jian; Parins-Fukuchi, Caroline; Yang, Ying-Ying; Yang, Jun-Bo; Yang, Zhi-Yun; Hu, Yi; Ma, Hong; Soltis, Pamela S.; Soltis, Douglas E.; Li, De-Zhu; Smith, Stephen A.; Yi, Ting-Shuang; et al. (2021). "Gene duplications and phylogenomic conflict underlie major pulses of phenotypic evolution in gymnosperms". Nature Plants. 7 (8): 1015–1025. bioRxiv 10.1101/2021.03.13.435279. doi:10.1038/s41477-021-00964-4. PMID 34282286. S2CID 232282918.
  3. ^ Stull, Gregory W.; et al. (2021). "main.dated.supermatrix.tree.T9.tre". Figshare. doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.14547354.v1.
  • Pauw, C. A. & Linder, H. P. 1997. Widdringtonia systematics, ecology and conservation status. Bot. J. Linn. Soc. 123: 297–319.
  • (archive)
  • Arboretum de Villardebelle - Photos of cones

widdringtonia, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, corresponding, inline, citations, please, help, improve, this, article, introducing, more, precise, citations, december, 2021, learn, when, remove, this, template, message, g. This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations December 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message 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 WiddringtoniaWiddringtonia whyteiScientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade GymnospermaeDivision PinophytaClass PinopsidaOrder CupressalesFamily CupressaceaeSubfamily CallitroideaeGenus WiddringtoniaEndl Type speciesWiddringtonia cupressoides L Endl SpeciesW nodiflora W schwarzii W wallichii W whyteiSynonymsPachylepis Brongniart 1833 non Lessing 1832 Parolinia Endlicher 1841 non Webb 1840 Contents 1 Description 2 Species 3 Uses 4 References and external linksDescription editThis 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 the twigs 1 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 1 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 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 citation needed They open at four very thick valves that correspond to the four scales 1 Each cone produces few seeds They are wing with hard test and two cotyledons 1 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 citation needed Species editPhylogeny of Widdringtonia 2 3 W whytei Rendle Mulanje cedar W nodiflora von Linne Powrie Mountain cypress W schwarzii Marloth Masters Willowmore cedar W wallichii Endlicher ex Carriere Clanwilliam cedar 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 nbsp Widdringtonia nodiflora Widespread southern Malawi south to Western Cape Province South Africa nbsp Widdringtonia schwarzii Endemic Baviaanskloof and Kouga Mountains west of Port Elizabeth Eastern Cape Province South Africa nbsp Widdringtonia wallichii Endemic to Cederberg Mountains northeast of Cape Town Western Cape Province South Africa nbsp 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 editThe 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 edit a b c d Phillips Edwin Percy 1951 The genera of South African flowering plants South Africa Government Printer Stull Gregory W Qu Xiao Jian Parins Fukuchi Caroline Yang Ying Ying Yang Jun Bo Yang Zhi Yun Hu Yi Ma Hong Soltis Pamela S Soltis Douglas E Li De Zhu Smith Stephen A Yi Ting Shuang et al 2021 Gene duplications and phylogenomic conflict underlie major pulses of phenotypic evolution in gymnosperms Nature Plants 7 8 1015 1025 bioRxiv 10 1101 2021 03 13 435279 doi 10 1038 s41477 021 00964 4 PMID 34282286 S2CID 232282918 Stull Gregory W et al 2021 main dated supermatrix tree T9 tre Figshare doi 10 6084 m9 figshare 14547354 v1 Pauw C A amp 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 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Widdringtonia amp oldid 1180274777, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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