Widdringtonia
The name was Austrian botanist Stephan Endlicher's way of honouring an early expert on the coniferous forests of Spain, Capt.The scale-like leaves in adults are arranged in decussate opposite pairs in four rows along the twigs.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.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.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.