Abies amabilis

Purple - fir ( Abies amabilis )

The purple - fir ( Abies amabilis ) is a species of the genus fir (Abies ) in the pine family ( Pinaceae ). They are found along the west coast of Canada and the United States. The epithet " amabilis " means as much as "lovely".

• 5.1 Abiotic damage factors
• 5.2 harmful fungi
• 5.3 Plant pests
• 5.4 Animal pests

• 8.1 Notes and references
• 8.2 External links

Description

Appearance

The purple - fir is an evergreen tree, the growth heights of 25, can reach up to 70 meters and diameter at breast height from 60 to 260 centimeters in extreme cases. Young trees have a pointed crown that flattens with increasing age. The short and stiff branches go horizontally from the straight trunk and are usually opposite.

The smooth bark is colored light gray in young trees and usually has resin blisters. In older trees, the bark breaks into sheets and turns reddish gray. The hairy bark of the branches is dark brown in color on the branch -top and light brown on the bottom.

The seedlings may make from four to seven cotyledons ( cotyledons ).

Root system

While the seedlings still have a taproot, usually have mature trees, a flat, extensive root system. If the soil of pyroclastic sediments is covered, it can result in the formation of adventitious roots. As Mykorrhizapartner usually occurs Cenococcum on graniforme.

Buds and needles

The spherical buds 6-9 mm in diameter are brown in color and may be covered with a purple resin layer.

The notched at the tip of needles varies from 0.7 to 4 centimeters long and 1 to 3 millimeters wide. At the needle top, they are silvery white glossy green and at the bottom. On the needle base is found on both sides of the midrib 5-6 Stomatareihen. The needles are in two rows close together on the branches and overlap frequently.

Flowers, cones and seeds

The purple - fir is monoecious - getrenntgeschlechtig ( monoecious ) and is reached puberty at 20 to 30 years. During the pollen dispersal, which extends depending on the location from mid-May to mid-June, the male cones are colored red. Later they turn reddish yellow. The upright, oval - cylindrical cones are 8-18 cm long and 3.5 to 7 inches thick. They are initially purplish gray, dyed back brown to maturity in late August. You do not have a stalk and are resinous.

The light brown seeds are 10-12 mm long and about 4 millimeters wide. They have a reddish to light brown wings of about the same length as the seed.

Distribution and location

The natural range of the purple - fir extends from Southeast Alaska and western British Columbia in the north through western Washington and Oregon to California to north-west to the south. They settled here both sides of the Cascade Range and parts of the Coast Mountains, the Olympic Mountains and the Klamath Mountains.

One finds the purple - fir depending on the location from sea level to the tree line at an altitude of around 2300 meters. She is a tree of the maritime climate. One finds the species is common on deep, well-drained and moist soils. The annual rainfall varies depending on the location 965-6650 mm. The purple - fir is one of the most tolerant conifers shade and survives even decades of extreme shading.

Ecology

In the natural habitat, the purple - fir forms both pure and mixed stands. Pure stands are found primarily in the areas around Mount Baker and Mount Rainier, as well as in other areas of the Cascade Range in southern Washington. Throughout the range of mixed stands with the American West Hemlock ( Tsuga heterophylla ) are formed. In southern Washington and northern Oregon is also the noble fir (Abies procera) joins added frequently. In the coastal areas west of the Cascade Range, the purple - fir associated with the Sitka Spruce ( Picea sitchensis ) of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta ), Douglas fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii) and red cedar (Thuja plicata). In subalpine regions also occur the Subalpine Fir (Abies lasiocarpa ), the mountain hemlock ( Tsuga mertensiana ) and the Nootka cypress ( Xanthocyparis nootkatensis ) frequently. In the eastern border areas of the natural range, the type also associated with the Western Larch (Larix occidentalis), Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii ) and the Western White Pine (Pinus monticola ). In northwestern California, a loss of inventory formation with the splendor of fir (Abies magnifica).

The shrub layer throughout the entire range largely by the hedgehog force Wurz ( Oplopanax horridus ), formed Vaccinium Vaccinium ovalifolium and membranaceum. At higher altitudes Elliottia pyroliflora, Menziesia ferruginea, Rhododendron and Vaccinium also occur albiflorum on deliciosum. The Annoying Oregon grape ( Mahonia nervosa ) and Shallon bill berry ( Gaultheria shallon ) is mainly found in deeper layers of the distribution area.

In the herb layer is dominated by mainly the fern ( Blechnum spicant ), Clintonia uniflora, the Canadian dogwood (Cornus canadensis), the Moosglöckchen ( Linnaea borealis), Rubus lasiococcus, Rubus pedatus and the bear grass ( Xerophyllum tenax ) ago.

Use

The bright, soft and brittle wood is used mainly as construction timber, plywood and for pulp production. It is also suitable as a veneer, as sub- flooring as well as cladding. Only occasionally is the purple - fir as a Christmas tree use. It is sometimes planted as a park or ornamental tree.

Diseases and Pests

Abiotic factors

The purple - fir is affected to a large extent by abiotic factors. Because of the shallow root system and the thin bark of the species is vulnerable to forest fires. Because of the shallow root system it is windthrow risk. Wind breaks can also occur in dense stands in strong storms. The branches can break even the lightest of snow load.

Harmful fungi

The purple - fir occurs in a variety of pathogenic fungi. Often an infestation occurs with the root sponge ( Heterobasidion annosum ), an infection can occur throughout the year. In their natural habitat, the species is considered one of the most vulnerable trees against the commons honey fungus ( Armillaria mellea ) and Phellinus weiri which affected both the roots. Old trees are susceptible to heart rot, the tinctorium by Echinodontium and Haematostereum caused sanguinolentum. While the two species do not occur in young stands, the risk of infection increases with age. The needles are affected mainly by Lophodermium uncinatum, Phaeocryptopus nudus, Virgella robusta and various species of the genus Uredinopsis. Felled trees rot very quickly and are mainly from Fichtenporling ( Fomitopsis pinicola ), the surfaces Reishi ( Ganoderma applanatum ) Hirschioporus abietinus and Poria subacida infested. The total volume of lying tribes shall, within 5 years from between 50 and 100 percent.

Plant pests

For Arceuthobium tsugense, the purple - fir a secondary host Represent occurs in mixed stands with hemlock. Infestation with Arceuthobium abietinum occurs mainly in Central Oregon.

Animal pests

The purple - fir is attacked by a variety of insect pests. The most important role is played by the introduced from Europe Tannenstammlaus ( Adelges piceae ), infects the trees of all ages. When an infestation of the crown occur over several years driving deformation, needle loss and reduced growth. An attack on the trunk can lead to the death of the tree. At low elevation sites the Tannenstammlaus is often encountered while hardly occurs at subalpine sites.

Among the most important Zapf pests include the Hymenoptera Earomyia abietum, Megastigmus pinus and Megastigmus lasiocarpae that can cause large seed losses. The two butterfly species Acleris gloverana and Lambdina fiscellaria mainly occur in mixed stands in British Columbia and evoke Entnadelungen. The needle pests with less importance include the prongs Cohesive beef tensioner ( Ectropis crepuscularia ) and Melanolophia imitata. Choristoneura occidentalis occurs both in pure and in mixed stands. The two species of beetle Pseudohylesinus granulatus and Pseudohylesinus sericeus can cause major damage if they occur together with root damaging fungi.

The browsing by elk (Cervus canadensis) can reach large proportions. Game birds and rodents feed on the buds, while squirrels aufnagen the pins to get to the seeds. Occasionally trees are debarked by bears.

System

Abies amabilis is allocated within the genus of fir (Abies ) of section amabilis. The first description was in 1839 by David Douglas James Forbes: Pinetum Woburnense, p 125, Plate 44 Abies amabilis Dougl synonyms for. ex J.Forbes include Abies grandis Hook. non Lindl., Picea amabilis Dougl. ex Loudon and Pinus amabilis ( Dougl. ex Loudon ) Parl.

Despite the large distribution area hardly occur intraspecific differences between individual populations.

Threats and conservation

The species is " not threatened " on the Red List of IUCN. It is noted, however, that a re-evaluation of risks is required.

Swell

• Template: Internet resource / maintenance / access date not in ISO format Christopher J. Earle: Abies amabilis. In: The Gymnosperm Database. Accessed on December 2, 2010 (English ).
• Template: Internet resource / maintenance / access date not in ISO format Peggy D. Crawford, Chadwick Dearing Oliver: Pacific Silver Fir. In: Silvics of North America, Vol 1: Conifers. www.na.fs.fed.us, accessed on 18 December 2010 (English ).
• Abies amabilis in the Red List of Threatened Species IUCN 2010 Posted by: . Conifer Specialist Group, 1998, Accessed on December 2, 2010.