Abies firma
Momi fir ( Abies firma)
The Momi fir ( Abies firma) is a species of the genus of fir (Abies ) and the family (Pinaceae ). It occurs only in Japan.
Description
The Momi Fir is an evergreen tree, the growth heights of up to 50 meters and diameter at breast height of up to 2 meters can achieve. From the straight trunk with long branches go from horizontal or ascending. In young trees the crown is wide pyramdienförmig dome shaped up. At the age it flattens out more. The smooth bark is greyish and has in the youth mostly resin bubbles. At the age the bark becomes darker and breaks up. The bark of the branches is yellowish - green to gray- brown. It can be either covered with fine black hair and completely hairless.
The gray-brown buds are about 10 millimeters long and 5 millimeters thick. They are oval to conical in shape and slightly resinous. Young needles are divided into two and have a stabbing tip. They are found mainly in stem near old trees. Older needles are twisted at the base and have a blunt or notched tip. The needle top is grooved, while the underside is keeled. The color is dark green on the upper side of needle while the needle base has a blue-green - yellow color. The needles are usually a comb on the branches arranged. At the bottom you can find the needle 12 to 13 Stomatareihen.
The flowering period extends from April to May The cylindrical, male cones are yellowish and are approximately 2.5 and 3 inches tall. They are found individually suspended from the leaf axils. The green to yellow colored female cones are broadly oval to conical in shape and rounded at the tip. The cones ripen in October. Mature cones are yellowish- brown in color and are 8-15 inches long and 3-5 inches thick. The light brown seeds are 6-8 mm long and have a 10 to 15 millimeters long, brown, wings.
Distribution and location
The original distribution area of Momi fir includes the Japanese islands of Honshu, Shikoku, Kyushu and Yakushima. The tree grows at altitudes 50-1900 meters. The annual rainfall is about 1000 mm.
Pure stands are rarely formed and then grow mostly on dry sites. Mixed stocks, especially with other conifer species such as the Nikko Fir ( Abies homolepis ), the Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa ), the Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora ), Maid Pine ( Pinus parviflora ) Japanese Douglas Fir ( Pseudotsuga japonica), the shields Anne ( Sciadopitys verticillata ), Japanese Nutmeg ( Torreya nucifera) and the Southern Japanese Hemlock ( Tsuga sieboldii ) but also with broad-leaved trees such as Carpinus laxifolia, the Japanese chestnut ( Castanea crenata ), the notch - beech ( Fagus crenata ), Japanese beech ( Fagus japonica ) and various oak species formed (Quercus ).
Use
The wood is used as construction timber and for the production of coffins use. Outside Japan, the species is often planted as a garden and park tree.
System
The Momi fir is assigned Firmae within the genus of fir (Abies ) of Section Momi and the lower section. The first description was in 1848 as Abies firma by the two German botanist Philipp Franz von Siebold and Joseph Gerhard Zuccarini.
Threats and conservation
The species is " not threatened " on the Red List of IUCN. However, it is noted that a re-evaluation of the risk is necessary.
Swell
- Roger Phillips: The Great Cosmos naturalist guide trees. Franckh-Kosmos, Stuttgart 1998, ISBN 3-440-07503-6, page 62
- Christopher J. Earle: Abies firma. In: The Gymnosperm Database. Accessed on November 2, 2010 (English ).