Abies homolepis

Siebold et Zuccarini 1842

Common names

Nikko fir (Silba 1986).

Taxonomic notes

Description

"A pyramidal tree 25-40 m. tall, 1-5 m. in girth, with horizontal branches. Bark grayish-brown, with exfoliating scales. Branchlets slightly smooth, gray or brown to yellowish-brown, tinted pink, deeply grooved. Buds ovoid or ovoid-conical, partially hidden by the leaves, chocolate brown with white resin, 10-14 mm. in diameter. Leaves spreading outwards and upwards, with a distinct V-like parting above, sreading horizontally below, flattened on both faces, shiny dark green above, bluish-white below, 1-3 cm. long by 2-2.5 mm. wide; stomata very scarce above, in 6-8 lines below; cross-section avicular, base twisted, apex obtuse or bifid. Male strobili ovoid, yellowish-green, stamen dark purple, 1.4 cm. long by 7 mm. wide. Female cone cylindrical, apex rounded, resinous, dark violet then brown, 7-10 cm. long by 3-4 cm. wide; scales slightly pubescent, denticulate; bracts hidden, about 1/2 height of the scale. Seeds grayish, to 1.8 cm. long" (Silba 1986).

Distribution and Ecology

"Japan: Mount Adsuma to Mount Takakuma, 700-2200m" (Silba 1986). Hardy to Zone 4 (cold hardiness limit between -34.3°C and -28.9°C) (Bannister and Neuner 2001).

Big tree

Oldest

Dendrochronology

Ethnobotany

Observations

Remarks

Citations

See also

Eckenwalder (2009).

Farjon (1990).

Farjon (2010).

Iwatsuki et al. (1995).

Vidakovic (1991).