Abies densa
Abies densa
Abies densa is a species of the genus of fir (Abies ) in the pine family ( Pinaceae ). It occurs in the mountains of South Asia.
Description
Abies densa can grow as evergreen tree of stature heights of up to 60 meters and diameter at breast height of up to 250 centimeters reach. The trunk is straight and ends in a pyramidal to columnar crown that flattens with increasing age. The gray bark of young trees is scaly and tears later on in rough plates. Young branches have a yellowish to reddish brown bark that is furrowed and grayish with time. In the furrows of the bark occasionally occurs a sparse pubescence.
The straight needles are 1.5 to 5 inches long and 1.5 to 2.5 millimeters wide. The shadow needles are more or less of a comb on the branches. At the bottom you will find two needle Stomatabänder.
The side-mounted upright on the branches male cones are 2 to 4.5 inches tall. They are yellowish and have purplish to blue Mikrosporophylle. The upright and stalked cones are cylindrical in shape. They are 8-12 inches long and 4 to 5.5 inches thick. At first they are purplish blue, dyed to maturity towards dark purple. If they release the seeds, they are brown. The seeds are about 8 mm long and 4 mm wide. Each seed has an approximately 10 mm long and 5 mm wide, brown wings.
Distribution and location
The natural range of Abies densa comprises the eastern mountains of Nepal, Bhutan, the Indian states of Assam and Sikkim and the Tibet Autonomous Region.
The climate is dominated by monsoons, and therefore very moist. The annual rainfall is often more than 2000 mm. The summers are warm and humid and the winters are cold and snowy. Abies densa grows in cloud forests at altitudes 2450-4000 meters.
Abies densa forms at lower altitudes mixed stands with the caudate maple (Acer caudatum ), Acer pectinate and with various species of the genera Prunus, the flour berries ( Sorbus ), and rhododendrons (Rhododendron ). At sites over 3000 meters above sea level also occur the Sikkim Spruce ( Picea spinulosa ) and the Himalayan Hemlock ( Tsuga dumosa ) than mixed tree species. Close to the tree line Abies densa often associated with the Himalayan birch (Betula utilis ), the Sikkim Larch ( Larix griffithii ) and Juniperus squamata.
System
(Abies ) of section Pseudopicea and the subsection Delavayianae Abies densa is within the genre of the firs assigned. The first description of William Griffith after his death in 1854 in Notulae ad Plantas ASIATICAS. Part 4 released. Occasionally, the kind Delavays Fir ( Abies delavayi ) is subordinated. Other synonyms are Abies spectabilis var densa Silba and Abies fordei Rushforth.
Use
In their area of distribution Abies densa is often beaten for timber. The wood finds, among others, use in building construction. It is rare the species is planted as an ornamental tree.
Threats and conservation
Abies densa 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 densa. In: The Gymnosperm Database. www.conifers.org, accessed 5 January 2011 (English).
- Template: Internet resource / maintenance / access date is not in the ISO FormatAbies densa. In: Flora of China. www.efloras.org, accessed 5 January 2011 (English).