Widdringtonia nodiflora
Widdringtonia nodiflora
Widdringtonia nodiflora is a plant belonging to the family of the cypress family ( Cupressaceae ). It is native to southeastern Africa.
Description
Widdringtonia nodiflora grows as a evergreen tree that can reach heights of growth of up to 6 meters or more. The brown to gray bark is finely fissured lengthwise and peel off in long, narrow strips, with a reddish bark is revealed.
Boy, needle-like leaves are green, up to 20 millimeters long and are arranged spirally on the twigs. Older leaves are scale-like, colored dark green and up to 2 millimeters long.
The male cones are terminal on the branches and reach a length of 2-4 millimeters. The spherical female cones are 1.5 to 2 inches thick and are colored to maturity towards dark brown. Each pin consists of four woody cone scales, which have a warty surface. The journal of a tree can be in various stages of development. The dark brown to black seeds have a distinctive, red-colored wings.
Distribution and threat
The natural range of Widdringtonia nodiflora extends from Malawi and Mozambique to Zimbabwe in the north of South Africa.
Widdringtonia nodiflora thrives at altitudes 0-2950 meters. It grows mainly in higher elevations, where they often found on hillsides, on rocks and in gullies. Widdringtonia nodiflora is new again expel from the remaining plant parts capable of after fires.
Widdringtonia nodiflora is classified as " not at risk " in the IUCN Red List. The stocks are considered stable. Since it is different than the rest Widdringtonia species able after fires new expel again from the remaining parts of plants, these provide for them no serious threat dar.
The variety Widdringtonia nodiflora var whytei, which is considered whytei by some authors as an independent species Widdringtonia, is classified as " critically endangered " in the IUCN Red List. Full-grown trees often die because of their sensitivity to fire. The sparse rejuvenation of this variety, however, depends in turn on these fires. Suitable for rejuvenation sites are often colonized by the entrained Pinus patula.
Use
The very durable, silky, shiny wood of Widdringtonia nodiflora is suitable for the production of furniture and joinery. Shingles made from the wood take the time to a silver gray color.
System
The first description under the name ( basionym ) Brunia nodiflora was made in 1753 by Carl Linnaeus in Species Plantarum, Volume 1, page 199 Elizabeth Powrie led the way through 1972 in the Journal of South African Botany, Volume 38 (4 ), page 303 as Widdringtonia nodiflora in the genus Widdringtonia.
From the way Widdringtonia nodiflora there are about three varieties:
- Widdringtonia nodiflora draco var montana ( Stapf ) Silba. A synonym is Widdringtonia draco montana Stapf.
- Widdringtonia nodiflora var nodiflora, the nominate
- Widdringtonia nodiflora var whytei ( Rendle ) Silba: This endemic species is found only on the Mulanje Massif in Malawi. Synonyms are Callitris whytei ( Rendle ) Engl and Widdringtonia whytei Rendle.
Swell
- Christopher J. Earle: Widdringtonia nodiflora. In: The Gymnosperm Database. www.conifers.org, November 23, 2012, accessed on 24 February 2013 ( English).