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Woody > Abies > Abies spectabilis > Abies spectabilis

Abies spectabilis


Himalayan Fir




Origin:  Afghanistan, China, India, and Nepal.
            Mike's Opinion

this is Mike

"



Michael Pascoe, NDP., ODH., CLT., MSc. (Plant Conservation)

"

Family
Pinaceae
Genus
Abies
Species
spectabilis
Category
Woody
Type
Tree (evergreen)
Pronunciation
USDA Hardiness Zone
7
Canadian Hardiness Zone
6b
RHS Hardiness Zone
H6
Temperature (°C)
-15
Temperature (°F)
5
Height
20 m
Spread
10 m
Photographs
Description and Growing Information
Flowering Period
April
General Description
Large tree with rigid bark and unique black cones.
Cultivation
A high altitude plant that prefers moist but not saturated soils, it is not pollution tolerant.
Shape
Slightly rounded, pyramidal.
Growth
Slow
ID Characteristic
Rugged, greyish-black bark.
Pests
Pine caterpillar, causing defoliation of the tree and is a problematic pest in forestry plantations.
Habitat
Mt. Everest region of China and Nepal, into Afghanistan.
Bark/Stem Description
Rough and scaly, a lighter brown in its youth darkening to a blackish grey as it matures.
Flower/Leaf Bud Description
Small blunt brown buds, 2 - 3 cm.
Leaf Description
3 - 7 cm long with a lighter underside.
Flower Description
Small, brown, clusters of three, 2 - 6 cm.
Fruit Description
Held in an upright position on the tops of branches, young fruit a purplish colour and approximately 10 - 20 cm in length.
Colour Description
Dark green leaves, blackish grey bark and black cones.
Propagation
Seed stratification is beneficial, germination takes 6 - 8 weeks.
References
Sheat, Wilfrid G. "Propagation of trees, shrubs and conifers" (1948). Nie, Ze-Long, et al. "Polyploidy in the flora of the Hengduan mountains hotspot, southwestern China." Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden (2005): 275-306.
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