The
genus Abies - the Silver Firs
A genus of c. 40 species of evergreen trees of pyramidal habit. Only one type of branch - no spur shoots. Leaves linear, spirally arranged, slightly swollen and flattened at the base. Flat disc-like scars are left on the shoots when the leaves fall (cf. Picea). Trees Tnonoecioiis. Ovulate cones erect on branches, rather large ; the scales fall when the seeds are ripe, leaving the central axis of the cone on the tree (cf. Picea).
Abies alba, Miller (A. pectinata DC.)
European Silver Fir
An important timber tree of Europe. It was introduced about 1600 into this country and extensively planted, but owing to its susceptibility to attack by aphis and fungi it is not now much used. A specimen in Argyllshire, which is about 170 feet high and 21 feet in girth, is one of the tallest trees in Britain. Not now represented on the estate.
(A)
Abies amabills, (Douglas) Forbes
Red Silver Fir
A native of North-Western America from'British Columbia to Oregon, growing to 250 feet in height. It was introduced in 1830, but is not comnionlv grown in this country. It is not adapted to dry conditions and succeeds best in moist Highland valleys. It is characterised by its small resinous buds and the peculiar odour of the cut or bruised shoots which resembles that of a tangerine orange. Commonly suffers damage by aphis attack.
(S)
Abies cephalonica, Loudon
Grecian Fir
Native to the higher mountains of Greece where it attains a height of 100 feet. Introduced in 1824, it has no commercial value in this country. As an ornamental tree it is most successful in the moist soils of the cooler parts of this country.
(R)
Abies concolor, (Gordon) Engelmann
Colorado White Fir
Native in the mountains from Colorado to New Mexico. It can attain a height of 120 feet. First introduced into this country about 1873, it makes a good specimen tree in the West of England. The wood is odourless and is used for making lard and butter boxes. The buds are resinous, the leaves about 2 inches long, flattened and silvery-green. Cones about 4 inches long, oblong. Bark smooth with numerous resin blisters, grey on young stems.
(P)
Abies firma, Sieb. and Zucc.
Japanese Fir, Momi Fir
A native of Japan growing there to 150 feet, being the largest and most beautiful of the Japanese Firs. First introduced by J. G. Veitch in 1861. The tree is pyramidal in habit with horizontal pale brown branches and branchlets.
(A)
Abies forrestii, Craib (A. delavayi Franchet var. forrestii A.
B. Jackson)
Forrest's Fir
A native of Yunnan, West China, growing to c. 60 feet. Introduced by Forrest in 1910. This is a distinct and beautiful fir, easily recognisable by its bright rusty red, corrugated young shoots which contrast strongly with the dark shining green foliage leaves, white on the under side. Leaves arranged more or less in lateral rows with a narrow V-shaped parting between them. It appears to grow well in the South-West of England.
(S)
Abies grandis, Lindley
Giant Fir
A native of the mountains of Western North America where it grows to a height of 300 feet. Introduced into this country in 1832 by Douglas. This tree grows rapidly in the British Isles and is used as an ornamental specimen and in commercial plantations. The buds are ovoid and resinous, the leaves distinctly in two rows, those on the upper side of the shoot being much shorter than those on the lower side.
(A)
Abies magnifica, A. Murray
Red Fir
A native of the mountains of Oregon and California where it grows to a height of 200 feet. Introduced by Jeffrey in 1851. It is distinguished by its narrow conical habit, glaucous foliage and the peculiar curve of the leaves on the upper side of the shoot. It grows best in the cooler and moister part of the country, especially in the Highland valleys of Scotland. It does not thrive particularly well in the South of England.
(T)
Abies nobilis, Lindley
Noble Fir
A native of Oregon, Washington and California where it grows to a height of 200 feet in extensive forests on the mountain sides. Introduced by Douglas in 1830, it grows well in the cooler, moister parts of the country, especially in Scotland. It is liable to attack by the aphis Adelges in the milder Southern counties of England. The cones (6 to 10 inches) are the largest of the genus.
(S)
Abies nordmanniana, Spach
Caucasian Fir
A native of the Caucasus, Greece and Asia Minor where it attains a height of 200 feet. Introduced about 1848. It grows well in this country, but like A. nobilis is liable to aphis attack.
(P)
Abies numidica, de Lannoy
Algerian Fir
A native of the mountains of Algeria where it is known to grow to a height of 70 feet. Introduced in 1862, it is still relatively uncommon in this country. A characteristic feature of this fir is its short stout leaves usually more or less vertically arranged on the upper surface of the shoot.
(R)
Ables pinsapo, Boissier
Spanish Fir
Native and confined to the mountainous regions of Granada, growing on limestone. Introduced into this country in 1839. It is a stocky tree, especially when young as its branchlets are arranged most symmetrically. The leaves are short, blunt and rigid, projecting all round the twigs, and the tree might be mistaken for a spruce. The leaves are said to be used as a soap substitute among the Spanish peasantry.
(R)
Abies venusta, (Douglas) K. Koch
Bristle-cone Fir. Santa Lucia Fir
Native and confined to the Santa Lucia Mountains of California, this tree is now believed to be almost extinct in the wild state. It was introduced in 1853. This beautiful, pyramidal, long-leafed fir with closely set branches which often sweep the ground is one of the most ornamental of the genus. It is not very resistant to frost and does best in the milder parts of the country. The specimen on the terrace behind Reed Hall is one of the finest in the country.