Mulanje Cedar :: Widdringtonia whytei

Bad at Goodbyes :: Episode 062

On today’s show we learn about the Mulanje Cedar, a critically endangered conifer tree native to the African nation of Malawi, specifically to Mount Mulanje in the southeast.

• (00:05) Intro
• (02:05) Species Information
• (23:53) Citations
• (25:52) Music
• (32:02) Pledge

For more information about Mount Mulanje conservation, please see the Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust at https://mountmulanje.org.mw

Research for today’s show was compiled from:

• Bayliss, Julian, Steve Makungwa, Joy Hecht, David Nangoma, and Carl Bruessow. “Saving the Island in the Sky: The Plight of the Mount Mulanje Cedar Widdringtonia Whytei in Malawi.” Oryx 41, no. 1 (2007): 64–69. – https://doi.org/10.1017/S0030605307001548
• Burger, Niel. “Disturbance ecology and size-class structure of the Mulanje cedar of Malawi, Widdringtonia whytei, and associated broadleaved forest.” Botany honours project 2010. University of Cape Town. –  http://hdl.handle.net/11427/24397
• Chanyenga, Tembo F., Coert J. Geldenhuys, and Gudeta W. Sileshi. “Effect of Population Size, Tree Diameter and Crown Position on Viable Seed Output per Cone of the Tropical Conifer Widdringtonia Whytei in Malawi.” Journal of Tropical Ecology 27, no. 5 (2011): 515–20. – https://doi.org/10.1017/S0266467411000204
• Chanyenga, T., Shaw, K. & Mitole, I. 2019. “Widdringtonia whytei.” The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T33216A126090798. – https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T33216A126090798.en
• CNN. “Saving Malawi’s Mulanje Cedar.” October 2025. Inside Africa S21 E21. – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTNGckdP7kk
• Earle, Christopher J., ed. "Widdringtonia whytei." The Gymnosperm Database. February 10, 2025. – https://conifers.org/cu/Widdringtonia_whytei.php.
• Farjon, A. 2019. “Widdringtonia whytei.” Threatened Conifers of The World – https://threatenedconifers.rbge.org.uk/conifers/widdringtonia-whytei
• Frank, Fred & Mwabumba, Lusayo & Mhango, Jarret & Missanjo, Edward & Kadzuwa, Henry & Likoswe, Michael. (2023). “Genetic and Phenotypic Parameters for Growth Traits of Widdringtonia whytei-Rendle Translocation Provenance Trials in Malawi.” Journal of Global Ecology and Environment. Volume 17, Issue 4. 32-48. – https://doi.org/10.56557/jogee/2023/v17i48222
• Martin, Emma, and Burgess, Neil. "Mulanje Montane Forest-Grassland." One Earth. September 23, 2020. – https://www.oneearth.org/ecoregions/mulanje-montane-forest-grassland
• Mitrani, Leila. 2017. “Reproduction and establishment of two endangered African cedars, Widdringtonia cedarbergensis and Widdringtonia whytei.” Masters Thesis. University of Cape Town. – http://hdl.handle.net/11427/25431
• Missanjo, Edward & Frank, Fred. (2015). “Restoration and Survival Trend of Widdringtonia whytei Forest at Chambe Basin, Mulanje Mountain.” Journal of Basic and Applied Research International (JOBARI). 3 (2). 54-58. – https://ikprress.org/index.php/JOBARI/article/view/3135
• Mulanje Mountain Conservation Trust – https://mountmulanje.org.mw
• Pauw, C. Anton and Linder, Peter H. “Tropical African cedars (Widdringtonia, Cupressaceae): systematics, ecology and conservation status.” Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, Volume 123, Issue 4, April 1997, Pages 297–319. – https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1095-8339.1997.tb01421.x
• Smith, Paul. “Saving Malawi’s National Tree.” BGjournal 12, no. 2 (2015): 34–36. – https://www.jstor.org/stable/24811438
• Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Widdringtonia_whytei

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A note on accuracy: I strive for it! These episodes are well-researched and built from scholarly sources, hoping to provide an informed and accurate portrait of these species. That said, I’m a musician! I am not an academic and have limited scientific background. I may get things wrong! If you are using this podcast for scholarship of any kind, please see the cited sources and double-check all information.