Widdringtonia cedarbergensis, the Clanwilliam cedar, is a rare tree of a small distribution area in the Cederberg. It typically grows to heights around 6 m, although some specimens 20 m tall in remote spots were known; some may still exist.
The tiny leaves of the Clanwilliam cedar are needle-like when young and spirally arranged on the stems. As they mature, the leaves become scale-like and ovate, tightly pressed against the stems.
Overused as timber in the past and ravaged by veld fires, protection and planting programmes bring a welcome turnaround in the fortunes of this valued endemic. The sought after aromatic wood is light yellow to whitish, borer free and works well (Coates Palgrave, 2002).