Abies veitchii

Veitch's Fir ( Abies veitchii )

Veitch's Fir ( Abies veitchii ) is a plant of the genus fir (Abies ) in the pine family ( Pinaceae ).

Description

Veitch's Fir is reached an evergreen, relatively short-lived tree ( about 100 years), the plant height to 25 meters. Veitch's fir forms a narrow, cone- shaped tree crown, which is usually columnar in older trees. The branches of the lower part of the crown are often bent upward so that the lower surfaces of the silver needles are visible; from a distance the tree then acts like frosting. The branches in the upper part of the crown are horizontally or slightly bent downward. Veitch's Fir is in the first five years, the fastest growing of all pine species; in the 3rd year it grows about 15 cm, in the 4th year to 60 cm. The shoot takes place in mid June, and thus the latest of all pine species. The branches grow to August.

The bark is gray-brown to gray. It is smooth with horizontal lines and whitish patches of old trees. The strain has deep grooves, forming large cavities under the Astansätzen. The bark of the branches is pale gray-yellow, slightly ribbed, and more or less hairy. The buds are red to purple. All needles pointing forward to the branch tip. The needles are tight; they are dark green and slightly glossy; under hand, they carry two wide, shiny, silver ribbons. The needles are long and 2.5 cm; they are until just before the tip gradually wider. The crushed needles smell of resin.

The male cones are small and spherical; they sit on the affiliate page. The female cones stand upright; they are 2-3 cm long and bright red. The resulting cones are 6-8 cm long and 2.5 cm wide. They are purple and blue cylindrical with 2-3 mm less protruding bracts. The mature cones are brown. Even young trees already set on pins.

Dissemination

Veitch's Fir is native to central Japan on two islands. Their natural area is a 60 -hectare site on the island of Hondo and the island of Shikoku. In Central Europe Veitch's Fir is not often, but every now and then to find in parks.

System

John Lindley honored in 1861 with the specific epithet John Gould Veitch who examined the vegetation of Japan. Abies veitchii belongs to the section of the genus Abies balsamea in.

Swell

• Christopher J. Earle: Abies veitchii. In: The Gymnosperm Database. December 19, 2010, accessed 6 November 2011 (English, Section Description and systematics).