Widdringtonia schwarzii Masters

Tree normally 17-26 m high, occasionally attaining a height of about 40 m with stem diameter up to 5 m; crown pyramidal, usually not spreading with age; bark on young trees reddish grey, thin, fibrous, flaking off annually. Leaves of two types; juvenile leaves on seedlings and young trees needlelike, spreading, 1-2 cm long and up to 2 mm broad; adult leaves scale-like, appressed, ovate, usually strictly decussate, semi-circular in transverse section, adnate at the base, free portion often much shorter than adnate portion. Male cones mostly on short lateral branchlets, scales usually 6 pairs, decussate, coriaceous, peltate, oblong, acuminate, with 4 pollen sacs at the base of each scale. Mature female cones consisting of usually 4 woody valves, valves rough with regular tubercles along the margin. Seeds ovoid, conspicuously winged, somewhat flattened, outline including wings oblong-obovate, wing retuse at apex; seed scar about 1.5 x 2.5 mm; Cotyledonary leaves (after germination) 20-25 mm long and about 2 mm broad.