Stellenbosch University Botanical Garden, South Africa

Common name: Bergsipres, Mountain cedar, Mountain cypress, Cape cypress

Family: Cupressaceae (Cypress)

Synonym: Brunia nodiflora, Widdringtonia cupressoides

Distribution: Southern Africa: Western Cape to Zimbabwe

Habitat: Rocky mountain slopes, fynbos and grassland.

IUCN Red list: Least concern

National red list: Least Concern

Life form: Evergreen tree

Comments: Found predominantly in cool and wet mountain fynbos, often in rocky outcrops and among boulders on summits. Occurs also in montane grassland often near streams and in canyon woodland ('kloofbos'), accompanied by numerous fynbos genera.
These cones only open and release seed once the plant is killed, usually by fire. Keeping seed in closed cones on the plant and only releasing them after fire is the same strategy as most Cape Proteas – a trait known as serotiny. The widespread mountain cedar also resprouts vigorously from the rootstock after fire, creating the characteristic multi-stemmed growth form usually seen.