Abies spectabilis
Himalayan Fir ( Abies spectabilis )
The Himalayan Fir ( Abies spectabilis ) is a coniferous tree from the kind of fir trees in the family Pinaceae. Its distribution area is the Himalayas from Afghanistan to Kashmir, North-West India and Nepal to Bhutan.
Description
The Himalayan fir is an up to 50 meters tall with a diameter at breast height of up to 1.5 meters. She has a broad conical crown, far protruding branches and a rough, scaly bark. The yellowish- gray, brown or reddish-brown branches are thick, furrowed and hairy in furrows. The buds are plump and strong resinous. The needles are available in two to four rows. They are directed forwardly and laterally parted and more or less V-shaped. They are 2.5 to 6 inches long and 2.5 to 3.5 millimeters wide. The needles are leathery, stiff, rounded and have two peaks. The top is shiny dark green, the underside shows two broad white stomatal bands. The cones are cylindrical and are 14 to 18 inches long and 5-6 inches wide. They are first violet- reddish and brown when ripe. The scales are 1.5 to 2 inches wide, the bracts are hidden. The seeds are about 1 inch long and have a broadly wedge -shaped wings.
Distribution and ecology
The natural range of the Himalayan fir is the Himalayas, it is found there, from Afghanistan to Kashmir, North-West India and Nepal to Bhutan. Where it grows in mountain forests on fresh to moist, acidic to neutral, sandy- humus to sandy gravelly or rocky, shallow soils on absonnigen to light shady locations. It is moderately frost hardy. They are found at altitudes 2600-3800 meters along with various rhododendron species and in the Himalayan birch (Betula utilis ).
In the IUCN Red List, the Himalayan fir will be listed as endangered ( " Lower Risk / least concern "). It is noted, however, that a re-evaluation of risks is required.
Systematics and history of research
The Himalayan Fir ( Abies spectabilis ) is a species of the genus fir (Abies ) of the family (Pinaceae ). It is assigned to the section Pseudopicea. It was first described in 1824 by David Don under the basionym Pinus spectabilis before it has been assigned by Édouard Spach 1841 of the genus Abies. Other synonyms are Abies webbiana Lindl. and Pinus webbiana Wall. ex Lamb ..
Use
The Himalayan fir is very rarely used because of their timber.