A Guide to the Firs (Abies spp.) of the Arnold Arboretum

Richard Warren Ethan W johnson

Twenty-five of the thirty- to forty-odd species (and hybrid species) of the wide-ranging Northern Hemisphere genus Abies currently grow in the Arnold Arboretum

Abies is the scientific name of the firs, or, as is more common in Britain, of the silver firs. Botanists took many years to agree upon it (Warren, 1982). Virgil (70-19 s.c.) applied the word "abies" to the wood employed for the ribs of the Trojan horse (Virgil, circa 19 s.c.). This may have led to the modern naming of the genus; certainly it influenced the naming, in 1883, of a species from northwestern Anatolia-Abies equi-trojani Aschers e~ Sint. The English word "fir" is of Scandinavian (Old Norse) origin and referred originally to pine, which in that part of the world is Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Many English still refer to their pines as ‘ firs. Their use of "silver fir" as the common name for members of the genus Abies is due to the whiteness of the undersides of the leaves in most species. The aims of this guide are, first, to highlight the morphologic characters of the genus Abies so that it may readily be distinguished from related genera and, second, to accentuate the characters that clearly separate the species of Abies from each other.

The Genus Abies

The genus Abies, as do the genera Pinus, mates like that of the Mediterranean area. Picea, and Larix, grows widely in the North There are some thirty to forty species in Temperate Zone around the world, reaching the genus Abies, depending on the author. Liu from the Arctic Circle (Abies sibirica) to the (1971), for example, lists forty-one species, Tropical Zone, at 15 degrees North latitude sixteen varieties, and six hybrids. Abies (Abies guatemalensis) in Central America. In competes for third place with Picea as the general, it is not as hardy in Arctic climates genus of conifers in the Northern Hemi- as are members of the genus Picea, but Picea sphere containing the greatest number of does less well than Abies in southern cli- species (Pinus contains about one hundred species and Juniperus about sixty). This guide is based on the species of Abies in the Arnold made Charles Edward Faxon Opposite : Drawings by of and two various macroscopic and microscopic structures of the Arboretum-twenty-three species grand fir (Abies grandis Lindley). From Charles Sprague named hybrids, twenty-five in all (see the list Sargent’s The Silva of North America. (See page 29.) on page 13). 4

Habit below, are arranged all around the branchlet. Erect. Narrow. Pyramidal. With the no- Also, the nearer the situation of the branchlet table exception of Abies nordmanniana, the to the crown, the greater the tendency to branches do not droop. The leader is seen up- suppression of the V. right and rigid against the sky as in Picea (not nodding as in Tsuga). Leaves Flattened, linear. Above: few or no stomata Bark (exceptions showing stomata above, such as Smooth at first but stippled with horizontal Abies concolor, Abies lasiocarpa, Abies rnag- rows of resin blisters appearing like len- nifica, Abies pinsapo, and Abies procera give ticels. With age the lower bark in most spe- a first clue to identity), a groove usually being cies becomes rough. Departures from these present. Below there are two longitudinal generalizations form the basis for the identi- bands made up of several rows each of sto- fication of certain species. mata varying in color from white to gray-green. The bands are framed by three Buds longitudinal, slightly raised, green ribs, the Ovate or round (less pointed than in Picea). midrib, and the sideribs. The tip of the leaf is Resinous or not resinous. It is to be noted that rounded or pointed or notched. The attach- the resinosity or nonresinosity of the buds is ment of the leaves to the branchlet is by a useful in distinguishing species but is of no rounded end of the pedicel, which looks like use after they have broken open in the grow- a suction cup. ing season (May through July) until the new ones have formed. The resin may present to Resin Canals the eye either as semicrystallized white gran- Resin canals are tubular channels in the leaf ules or as glairy, clear material. Both are tissue lined with resin-secreting cells. Their sticky to the touch. position in the leaf relative to other struc- tures seen in cross section is of use in distin- Branchlets guishing between species, as is true to some Surface generally even in contour but often extent in all conifers. This is particularly so in fissured or undulate. Not roughened nor the genus Abies, where the position is more scaled. Hairy or not hairy according to spe- constant and reliable than in other conifers. cies. When the leaves fall off the branchlet Firs have two resin canals. They are seen symmetrical, round leaf scars are left. These with a lens as two holes in the cut surface of scars are different from those on the branches a transected leaf from which drops of resin of Picea, which are at the tips of woody pegs, emerge (see the figure, page 10). The two cate- or projections from the branchlet surface gories of position are marginal, wherein the called sterigmas. The leaf scars in Pseudo- canal edge touches the hypoderm, and me- tsuga (Douglas fir) are also rounded but are dian, when it does not. slightly raised from the branchlet surface. Since the relative position of the canal within the leaf may vary between its base and Foliage its tip, make the section of the leaf near its Leaves are in two ranks, each rank consisting middle. Use a very sharp instrument, such as of two or more rows in which the shorter a razor blade, and wipe away the emerging leaves are above. They tend to be arranged in resin droplet, which may be so large as to a pectinate fashion, with a "V" between the obscure the position of the canal. A hand rows above and less of a V below. Prominent lens and a good light are needed. A dissecting exceptions are Abies koreana, and Abies pin- microscope is a useful "luxury." sapo, whose leaves, although more dense 5

Cones itself from the outset. The habit and the bark The barrel-shaped, upright megasporangiate will then naturally be examined first. cones of Abies occur, as they do in most coni- The following seventeen species, in addi- fers, in the uppermost branches of the tree. tion to those listed on page 13, which grow in The young cones of most species are purple, the Arnold Arboretum, are recorded as be- but the color changes to brown later in the longing to the genus Abies. Some have in the year. A few conspicuous exceptions have past been tried in the Arnold Arboretum and cones that are green when young-Abies failed and therefore have not been included in nephrolepis forma chlorocarpa, Abies ho- this report. We make note of them here for molepis var. umbellata (Abies Xumbellata), completeness in overviewing the genus but andAbies veitchii var. olivacea, for example. have appended no descriptions. We will refer Ovuliferous (seed-bearing) scales of Abies to them occasionally. cones are woody, each bearing two winged seeds on its adaxial surface. They mature in Abies bracteata (D. Don) D. Don ex Poiteau Abies chensiensis Van one season and on the Tieghem growing disintegrate Abies ernestii (Rehder) Liu tree. The scales detach in the fall, and the Abies delavayi Franchet seeds are dispersed by the wind. The central Abies durangensis Martinez spikelike element of the cone denuded of Abies guatemalensis Rehder scales remains erect on the branchlet for up to Abies hickeli Flous & Gaussen Abies kawakamii Ito a or more. (Hayata) year Abies mariesii M. T. Masters The bracts of Abies cones are in certain Abies mexicana Martinez species longer than the cone scales. The tips Abies nebrodensis (Lojacono-Pojero) Mattei are then visible, and they are described as Abies numidica De Lannoy ex Carriere * "exserted." This is a lead toward Abies pardei Gaussen. helpful Abies All of the Abies are pindrow(Lambert) Royle identity. species genus Abies religiosa (von Humboldt, Bonpland & monoecious. Pollination is by wind. Kunth) Schlechtendal & Chamisso Abies squamata M. T. Masters Similar Genera and Distinguishing Abies vejari Martinez Characters determined that an a Genera of evergreen trees that might be con- Having unknown is fused with are Picea spp. (the spruces), Tsuga member of the genus Abies one must estab- if spp. (the hemlocks), Pseudotsuga spp. (the lish which, any, of the above species best the Since are Douglas firs), and Taxus spp. (the yews). The fits characters observed. keys salient differences among them are tabulated often difficult to follow, we have chosen to on page 12. present the material in tabular form (pages 6 The first important step is examination of and 11). Smoothness of bark, resinosity of the branchlet for the character of the leaf buds, ridges or grooves on the branchlet sur- scars. The next is the leaves themselves. The face, hairiness of branchlet, stomata situated bud and the cone, when available, are ex- on the upper surface of the leaves in addition tremely, if not definitively, important, but to the underside, whiteness of stomata, posi- of of they are not as dependably available as the tion resin canals, and degree of exsertion leaves. Study of the bark and habit should scale bracts of the cones are considered the come next. Having accomplished examina- most significant characters. tion of these, then reexamination of the speci- men in more detail (hairiness and color of branchlet, resin canals in leaves) is advisable. *A plant designated "A. pardei" does grow in the Amold Arboretum, but an irregular taxonomic feature This order of examination can be obviously (glabrous branchlets) casts doubt on its identity and changed if one is in the presence of the tree prompts us to omit it from the list. 6

1 1 According~ to Important Characters

Bark Hairiness of branchlet General Young bark is relatively smooth Hairiness of branchlets is best Abies concolor (i.e., is not scaly or ridged). looked for on the previous year’s Abies magnifica "Smoothness" does not rule out growth. A hand lens is helpful. A Abies pinsapo a "pigskin," pebbly character, thorough examination is neces- Abies procera and the old bark roughened sary to derive a concept of the with flat or elevated plates or trend. Scattered hairs are occa- Partial ridges. The following are excep- sionally found in the grooves of Abies amabilis tions : those listed as not hairy. Abies Xborisii-regis hairy (occasionally) Old bark smooth Conspicuously Abies xbommuelleriana Abies sachalinensis Abies alba Abies cephalonica Abies veitchii Abies balsamea Abies fraseri Abies Xborisii-regi’s Abies lasiocarpa New bark rough Abies concolor Abies sibirica Abies fraseri Abies holophylla Abies grandis The fourteen other Abies homolepis Abies species lasiocarpa show no stomata on the upper Abies magnifica surface. Bud Abies nordmanniana Most buds in firs, as in spruces Abies sachalinensis and pines, are resinous. The fol- Abies sibirica Stomata on underside of lowing five exceptions are Abies veitchii leaves gray or green (not useful only when the buds are white) unbroken: Slightly hairy Abies amabilis Abies Xborisii-regis Abies alba Abies a firma gray-green Abies cephalonica Abies nephrolepis Abies cilicica (occasionally resinous) Abies koreana gray-green Abies cilicica Abies procera Abies concolor (occasionally resinous) Abies holophylla glaucous Not hairy Abies firma (occasionally resinous) gray-green Abies nordmanniana Abies Xbornmuelleriana Abies Abies holophylla cephalonica gray-green Abies cilicica Abies Ridges or grooves on Abies fargesii lasiocarpa branchlet gray surface of Abies holophylla Abies Branchlets conspicuously Abies pinsapo homolepis gray and un- Abies ridged grooved (gentle pinsapo Abies recurvata dulations and shallow fissures Abies recurvata not included): green The seventeen other Abies firma Stomata on upper surface species Abies show white stomata on the holophylla of leaves lower surface. Abies homolepis The leaves are the most impor- Abies nephrolepis tant vegetative element of a Abies pinsapo conifer for distinguishing the Abies sachalinensis species from each other. Leaves with stomata on their upper surface (when present here, stomata concentrate on the and in the dorsal tip groove): (continued on page 11) 7

View toward the south in the Arnold Arboretum’s Pinetum (left). Abies concolor is in the foreground, Abies homolepis in the background. The small plant is Abies concolor ‘Candicans’, which was damaged by vandals. A fine, 25-meter- tall, 60-year-old specimen of Abies concolor (right). All photographs on pages 7 through 10 were taken by Ethan W. Johnson.

Leaf attachments of conifez~. Abies concolor: leaf bases resembling suction cups (a); Abies veitchii: leaf scars circular (b) ; Picea koyamai: pegs, or sterigmata (c); Pseudotsuga menziesii: leaf scars slightly raised, oval (d); Taxus cuspidata: oblique, easily peeling attachments (e); Tsuga caroliniana: petioles tiny, leaf scars raised (f). 8

Bark. Abies balsamea: resin blisters numerous on otherwise smooth bark (left); Abies holophylla: bark flaking off in papery strips (right).

Grooving of branchlets. Abies homolepis: Branchlets grooved (left); Abies concolor: branchlets not grooved (right). 9

Hairiness of branchlets. Abies alba: hairs on branchlets visible to the naked eye (left); Abies concolor: hair on branchlets short, best observed with the aid of a magnifying glass (right).

a b c d

e f g Leaf attitudes and contours. Abies firma: leaves on lower (immature) branches with bifid tips (a); Abies procera: leaf bases curved in hockey-stick fashion (b); Abies recurvata: leaves pointing back, away from terminal (c); Abies pinsapo ’Glauca’: leaves short, stiff, and stout (d); Abies lasiocarpa: leaves long, slender, and supple (e); Abies grandis: leaves spreading nearly at right angles to the branchlet (f); and Abies koreana: leaves that reach out on all sides of branchlet, no V" (p~. 10

a b d Leaf markings and resin canals. Abies cephalonica: dorsal stomata often present in groove at tip of leaves (a); Abies lasiocarpa: dorsal stomata usually above middle of leaves (b); Abies concolor: resin canals marginal (c); Abies holophylla: resin canals median (d).

Cones. Abies koreana: bract scales exserted (leftJ; Abies concolor: bract cones hidden in cones (right). A silvery resin is dripping from the cone. 111

(continued from page 6)

Position of resin canals Cones Cone bracts an asterisk In cones are harder to Species accompanied by Abies, exserted (*~ appear in both columns. obtain than are those of other Markedly conifers. The most conspicuous Abies alba Marginal characteristic in differentiation Abies Xbozisii-regis Abies alba of species is the exsertion of the Abies xbornmuelleriana Abies amabilis bract scales, or their lack of Abies cephalonica *Abies Xborisii-zegis exsertion. Other features, such Abies fargesii Abies Xbornmuelleriana as cone-scale shape, color, and Abies firma Abies Abies cephalonica size, and shape of cone, are less fraseri (occasionally important. Abies procera submarginal) Abies veitchii *Abies cilicica (occasionally slightly) Abies concolor Abies grandis Slightly exserted Abies nordmanniana Abies nephrolepis Abies procera Abies nordmanniana Abies recurvata Abies sachalinensis (often hidden)I Median Abies koreana Abies balsamea *Abies Xborisii-regis Hidden (occasionally on Abies amabilis fruiting branches) Abies balsamea *Abies cilicica Abies cilicica (occasionally on Abies concolor fruiting branches) Abies grandis Abies fargesii Abies holophylla Abies firma (occasionally Abies homolepis more than two resin Abies lasiocarpa canals) Abies magnifica Abies fraseri Abies pinsapo Abies holophylla Abies recurvata Abies homolepis Abies sibirica Abies koreana submarginal)(occasionally Abies lasiocarpa Abies magnifica Abies nephrolepis Abies pinsapo Abies sachalinensis Abies sibirica Abies veitchii (occasionally submarginal) 12

I 1 .~ with ~ n 1 · ~ r of the Arnold Arboretum

Page Abies albaI Miller ...... 16 Abies amabilis (Douglas) J. 1 1 ’ 17 Abies balsamea1 (Linnæus) Miller ...... 18 Abies Xborisii-regis 1 19 Abies I I I1 ~ 1 20 Abies l I I/ 1 1 1 21 Abies cilicica 1 ~ 1 Carrière...... 22 Abies concolor 1 1 1 Engelmann ...... 23 Abies fargesii Franchet...... 25 Abies firma ’ 1 11 &. Zuccarini ...... 26 Abies fraseri ~ ~ 1 i Abies grandis 1 ’ 29 Abies I I II 1 30 Abies’ I I I ’ 1 11 &. Zuccarini ...... 31 Abies’ koreana1 E. H. Wilson...... 33 Abies I I I I1 (Hooker) Nuttall ...... 34 Abies magnificaI ’ Murray...... 36 Abiesn n / / n / ~ 1 37 Abies’ nordmannianaI (Steven) 1. 38 Abies’ pinsapoI 1 1 39 Abies I II Rehder...... 41 Abies recurvataI M. T. Masters ...... 43 Abies sachalinensis M. T. Masters ...... 44 Abies sibiricaI ’ 1 · 1 1 45 Abiesn veitchii 1 . 46 GLOSSARY OF ~ 1 47 1 1 ~v 14

1 . 1 ’1 ~ 1 1 1 .

In describing the genus Abies and those of its species that grow in the Arnold Arboretum, we list characters in the same sequence. Though we do not provide a key, we do provide summary tabulations that group by character the species that possess it (see pages 6, 11, and 12). Examine an unidenti fied specimen in the sequence suggested-that is, its habit first, then its bark, branchlet including bud, foliage, leaf, and, finally, cone. There may be some disagreement on definitions of the above terms because they overlap. Some categories, such as "branchlet," "foliage," and "leaf," have been arbitrarily defined. "Branchlet" as used here includes both the new shoot and the adjacent growth of recent years. Except in late summer and fall, the previous year’s growth usually is the most useful for determining color, hairiness, and texture of the sur- face. We deal with leaf scars under "Branchlet" rather than under "Leaves," while the arrangement of leaves on the branchlets we treat under "Foliage." Leaf color we usually discuss under "Leaves," unless there was some particular advantage in describing the color imparted to the whole leaf, as in the blue Spanish fir, Abies pinsapo forma glauca, in which case we refer to it under "Foliage." The descriptions are based on our personal inspection of living material, most of it from the Arnold Arboretum. References from the literature reinforce our observa- tion. When we refer to trees growing in the Arnold Arboretum they are older, established plants. We include infraspecific taxa and cultivars if they grow at normal rates; slow-growing taxa and dwarfs we refer to only if they are the sole representatives of the species in the Arnold Arboretum or if they possess some special feature that is worthy of note.

Dimensions with resin canals that become, in plants The dimensions of the species are based on where they are typically marginal, more me- cultivated trees unless we specifically state dian. that we are dealing with a native habitat. Conifers in cultivation in the United States Cone today usually are no more than one hundred Be prepared to do without a cone for examina- fifty years old and thus do not indicate the tion. With few exceptions the cones of Abies size they eventually will achieve in their are borne in the crown of the tree and disinte- natural habitats. grate there when mature. So climbing or us- ing some other method of reaching the upper Foliage part of the tree is necessary unless one is The foliage available for examination usually fortunate enough to find a cone-bearing top is taken from the tree at a level between 1.5 branch knocked off by a strong wind or a and 3 meters from the ground. Foliage on the heavy load of snow. The only other conifer upper, better-lit, "fruiting" branches differs genus whose cones behave in the same way is from that lower down on the tree. At the high Cedrus, but in Cedrus some cones grow lower levels the branchlets and leaves are thicker down the tree and therefore are more acces- and stiffer, and the leaves, in addition, are sible from the ground. shorter, more upswept, pointed, and curved 15

Variations within Taxa Abies xbornmuelleriana is listed as pecti- In pursuing the identification of plants by nate on the upper surfaces of the branchlets, morphologic characters one is dealing with but one of our trees does not show this. The unstable factors and must not expect a single undersides of the leaves of Abies nephrolepis individual in a taxonomic category to be are recorded as having no midrib, but one of exactly like another. George Russell Shaw, in our plants does show a thin one. his monograph The Genus Pinus (1914), The great importance of looking at all the quoted Schimper: characters in a given plant and being prepared to choose which ones are determining cannot There are species... and this is be overemphasized. A certain amount of fa- equally important for the systema- with the is in tist and the physiologist,... which miliarity species necessary an authoritative The tabu- so completely react to the changing achieving opinion. requirements of moisture that ex- lations are guides only, not infallible descrip- treme forms can appear to belong to tions. But this is true also of keys. dissimilar species. A Note on the Symbols and Terms Used In the following treatment it has been nec- The most important characteristics for dis- essary to seem positive about the presence or tinguishing a species from similar ones are absence of certain characters, knowing that a signalled by the device "~" and are set in small proportion of the specimens do not boldface italic type. In many cases the de- conform. The character of hairiness versus gree to which a character expresses itself is hairlessness of the branchlet, for instance, rated as "0," "+," " "1+ , "2+," "3+," or "4+." may depend on whether a high magnification The hardiness zones used to indicate the is used. The branchlets of Abies concolor cold hardiness of species are those of the generally appear glabrous to the naked eye or Arnold Arboretum, not those of the United through a hand lens, but the dissecting micro- States Department of Agriculture. scope will show short hairs. The foliage of 16

Abies albaI · EUROPEAN SILVER 1

Abies alba grows widely in Europe, mostly in but 3 are less than 20 years old. One of the 3 mountain areas, from 38° North latitude to oldest plants is a magnificent tree of approxi- 52° North latitude between 30° and 27° East mately 25 m in height; its trunk is 66 cm in longitude. In Britain, where, it is cultivated diameter. The record is not available, but it is very widely and has been for centuries, it is known to have been growing there for at least almost regarded as native. It is the most 60 years. The next oldest is 50 years old and 16 common on the continent of Europe. m tall. Abies alba is hardy in Zones IV-VII in the No infraspecific relatives of Abies alba eastern United States and in the Arnold grow in the Arnold Arboretum. Arboretum, which grows 9 specimens. All

Habit Foliage Above Reaching 50 m in height Above Shiny green Pyramidal when young Leaves pointing forward No stomata (occasional excep- 90°-60° from branchlet tions) Bark Pectinate, with a wide V Shallow groove Gray, smooth, except in old Below No midrib trees, on which it is rough and ~Pectinate, pointing 80° from Below fissured branchlet Stomata white not revolute Bud Leaves NotMargins keeled Very small 2 cm x 2 mm Resin canals marginal Round to conical Flattened, linear ~Not resinous Sides parallel Cones Tips round or slightly notched 11 x 4 cm Branchlet Not curved Cylindrical Light tan to dark brown Margins entire 1+ tapered both ends 2+ hairy, scattered Flexibility 2+ Green-purple, turning brown Surface regular to slightly un- Bracts exserted dulating Flexibility 2+

Similar Species *Abies ~zorc~rr~a,~r~~ta,~a: leaves above point forward, eliminating the V and ccmce~.ling the branchlet surface -Abies balsamea : upper surfaces c~~ leaves less glossy; resin canals median; buds xesinous;

resin blisters on ba~r~ , ·,~bi~s azx~nbz~~s: leaves arranged like those of Abies nordmanniana but more curved and often with scattered stomata on their upper surfaces ·Abies veitchii; leaves 4+ flexible with strikingly blue-white, chalky bands beneath 17

Abies amabilis 1 .. · J. ~ m ’ REDk ’

Abies amabilis grows from southern Alaska same stature, such as Abies procera.Abies to the Oregon-California border at medium amabilis is hardy in Zones V-VII. elevations. It is very common on the Olympic The Arnold Arboretum contains only one Peninsula in Washington. One of its common mature specimen of Abies amabilis, the names is "lovely fir," a translation of the slow-growing cultivar ’Spreading Star’, an Latin amabilis. It lives up to the epithet, its attractive dwarf accessioned in 1971 and now spirelike crown distinguishing it from the 40 cm tall. slightly rounded tops of other firs of the Habit Foliage Above Pyramidal, graceful, spirelike Above Shiny green Growing to 80 m in its native Leaves pointing forward Occasional patches of stomata habitat 40°~0° from branchlet at tip or rarely scattered ~A rank of appressed, in lines Bark forward-growing leaves sparselyGrooved shallowly White-gray occupying center and Below Smooth, except at base, which covermg branchlet Stomata 3+~+, white on old trees is very rough ~ V wide Margins not revolute Below Not keeled Bud Pectinate, leaves pointing Resin canals marginal Small forward 70°-80° from branch- 4+ resinous let Cones 10-15 x 5-6 cm Branchlet Leaves Barrel-shaped Gray-brown Up to 3 cm x 2 mm Purple, becoming brown Dense, with short hairs Flattened, linear Bracts (with rare exceptions) Surface undulating Sides parallel hidden Tip truncated, occasionally notched Curved slightly (1+) in flat and lateral dimensions Margins entire Flexibility 3+

Distinguishing Characters -Crushed foliage reputed to smell of tangerines ·A specimen of Abies with leaves like those of Abies veitchii but longer and more curved, and arranged like those of Abies nordmanniana, but appressed in the center of the V, and having few stomata above and marginal resin canals likely to be Abies amabilis Similar Species . Abies nordmanniana: leaves flexible, point forward covering the branchlet, but with median resin canals and no white patches of stomata near tips on upper surface; cones with exserted bracts ·Abies veitchii: leaves with similar very white lines of stomata below, flexible, and pointing forward above the branchlet, but with median resin canals 18

Abies balsameaI ’ ~ ~ ~ 1

Abies balsamea is native to the northern trees native to the warmer coastal parts of United States and Canada, from Newfound- New England do well in Zone V, however. land to Alberta. It is fragrant with a balsam One of the best specimens in southern New odor and is used for pulp and Christmas trees England, a tree transplanted from southern in the northeastern United States. The name Maine as a seedling, is approximately 12 m "balsam fir" is applied to other firs in various tall; it grows next to a small pond in north- localities: to Abies fraseri in the Appa- eastern Connecticut (Storrs). lachians, Abies lasiocarpa in the Southwest, The Arboretum grows two specimens of and Abies concolor in the Sierra Nevada of Abies balsamea; accessioned about thirty California. All members of the genus Abies, years ago, they are 11 m and 12 m tall, respec- in fact, possess varying amounts of resin (or tively. balsam). Its only infraspecific taxa in the Arnold A cold-climate tree, Abies balsamea does Arboretum’s collections are slow-growing not do well in the Boston area. It is hardy to forms. Zone II, but Zone V is often too mild; some

Habit Branchlet Above ~Growing slowly, reaching 2+ undulating ridges covered Dark green, not conspicuously no more than 20 m in 50 with fine hairs shiny years No stomata Symmetrical, conical; crown Foliage Grooved spirelike, lasting into mature Above No midrib years Leaves pointing forward Below In maturity, not distinguished 80°~5° from branchlet 2 white bands of stomata ~8 as an ornamental Pectinate, with a wide V or fewer rows to each ~and Below Margins not revolute Bark Pectinate, leaves pointing Midrib 1+ prominent Gray-green 45°-90° forward Not keeled ~Smooth for promi- Resin canals median nentresinexcept blisters Leaves Rougher in old age 1.5-2 cm x 1.5-2 mm Cones Flattened in cross section 5-8 cm long Buds Sides parallel Cylindrical Small, less than 6 mm Tip entire, occasionally with a Green-purple, turning brown 4+ resinous tiny notch ~Bract tips usually hidden Not curved Margins entire Flexibility 2+

’

Similar Species " ·A,b~e~ ~lbr~: buds nonxesi~aus~ leaves shiny; xesin canais rnar~~na~ ·.A&~~s atn~t~xiZis: leaves shiny abcwe# ~ em long, flexible i.~b~~ ~’r~ser’i: shoots densely bair~r; 8-12 rows of stomata in each band on undersu~_ faces of leaves; tips of cone bracts exserted . ~A?~i~s nordmannian~c: leaves prv~ect forward, covering the shoot; buds nonresinous; resin canals marginal . =Abies veitchii: leaves 4+ flexihle; conspicuously chalky wbite stc~mata t~n undersurface of leaves 19

Abies Xborisii-regis ~ ,1 BULGARIAN 1

A hybrid of Abies cephalonica and Abies grated southward in Europe as the cooling for alba, Abies X borisii-regis, the Bulgarian (or the Ice Age began. King Boris) fir, grows in Bulgaria and Greece. Abies Xborisii-regis is hardy in Zones It was described in the early 1920s and named V-VII. In the Arnold Arboretum 3 magnifi- for King Boris of Bulgaria, who was monarch cent 60-year-old specimens grow. Acquired at the time the plant was identified as a as seeds from trees growing wild in Greece, separate species. A previous name was Abies they are 16 to 20 m tall and 60 cm in diame- alba var. acutifolia, a useful point to remem- ter. ber because one of its outstanding character- No infraspecific relatives of Abies istics is its pointed leaves. The hybridization Xborisii-regis grow in the Arnold Arbore- may have taken place when Abies alba mi- tum.

Habit Foliage Above A handsome, densely Above ~Very shiny deep green, no branched, dark tree with glossy Pectinate stomata except occasionally foliage and a broadly conic V very wide scarce at tip crown Leaves pointing forward 60° Groved prominently from branchlet No midrib Bark Below Below Very dark ~ray Pectinate Stomata gray-green Smooth; high on old trees Leaves pointing 80°-90° from Margins subrevolute branchlet Not keeled Bud Resin canals marginal but Pink-brown, ovoid-conical Leaves reported to be median on 4 mm 3-3.5 cm x 2.5 mm fruiting branchlets Resinous Flattened, linear, tapering at tip Cones Branchlet Sides parallel 8-12 x 3-4.5 cm ~Tip long, pointed Cylindrical, Light3+ hairy brown Curved 2+ in flat dimension from base to graduallybroad rounded tapering tip Surface 1+ grooved Margins entire Bracts markedly exserted Flexibility 2+ Flexibility 3+

Similar Species -The long, pointed leaves suggest Abies holophylla, but in that plant the branchlets are not hairy, the resin canals in the leaves are in the median position, and the bud is only slightly resinous. The cone of Abies holophylla, furthermore, does not expose its bracts. The leaves of Abies holophylla are lighter green. A striking feature of the specimens in the Arnold Arboretum is the glossiness of the upper surface of their leaves. This is often matched by one of its parents, Abies alba, which plant differs, however, in having nonresinous buds and shorter, less pointed leaves. 20

Abies ~ ~ , , ~~ 1~ TURKISH 1

Named for Joseph Bornmuller (1862-1948), a Abies nordmanniana, it was described in German botanical explorer in Asia Minor, 1925. Abies Xbornmuelleriana is native to the Abies X bornmuelleriana is hardy in Zone north shore of Asia Minor, on the Black Sea. V. The Arnold Arboretum has 2 specimens, A hybrid between Abies cephalonica and the older of which is 27 years old and 6 m tall.

Habit Foliage Above Broad Above Shiny green Rounded conical Not pectinate (occasional ex- Stomata scarce in groove at tip ceptions) Shallow groove Bark Incomplete V No midrib Gray, smooth, but pebbled like Leaves pointing forward 30° Below from branchlet Stomata ,. whitish gray pigskinOld bark rough Below not revolute Pectinate KeeledMargins by midrib Bud Resin canals marginal Resinous 2+ Leaves 2.5-3 cm x 2 mm Cones Branchlet Linear 12-15 x 4 cm Glabrous Sides bitapered Cylindric turret-shaped Undulating Tip a rounded, entire point, oc- Bracts exserted Greenish tan casionally emarginate Curved 2+ in the flat plane Margins entire Flexibility 1+

Distinguishing Characters ·Abies x bornmuelleriana: evenly placed between its two parents, sharing sorrie t~uali- ties of each (both have marginal resin canals and exserted cone bracts, although in Abies nordmanniana they are less conspicuous than in Abies cephalonicaJ, but Abies Xbornmuelleriana has the glabrous branchlets and resinous buds of Abies cephalonica (not seen in Cxili2s iiiui dlnanlllanQ Similar Species nordmanniana: leaves point forward above the branchlet but buds nonresinous Abies·Abies cephalonica: stomata on the upper surface but leaves more pointed and never emarginate 21

Abies cephalonical l 1 / GREEK FIR

Abies cephalonica is native to Greece and Abies cephalonica var. grxca differs from other parts of the southern Balkans, where it the type in having shorter, stiffer leaves grows in mountainous areas. Widely planted crowded on the upper surface of the shoot. Its elsewhere in Europe, it is hardy from Zone V previous name was Abies cephalonica var. to the milder parts of Zone VII. Three mature apollinis. The Arnold Arboretum grows 2 specimens grow in the Arnold Arboretum. specimens, 1 accessioned in 1900 and 13 m They are 103, 88, and 33 years old and meas- tall, the other accessioned in 1943 and 9 m ure 23 m, 22 m, and 13 m in height and 70-75 tall. cm in diameter. Habit Foliage Above Conical with a dome-shaped Above ~Shiny dark green, with a crown Leaves pointing 70°-90° from patch of stomata at the tip Transverse branches, long and branchlet Groove present strong ~Leaves going around shoot No midrib Bark green to some extent, leaving the Below upper side without a V Stomata in two white rows Bark Below Margins not revolute Gray-brown, occasionally with pectinate, but Midrib prominent, making a a touch of pink Incompletelyleaves less dense below than keel Younger parts of the tree with above pointing 60° from the Resin canals marginal or sub- beech-gray bark, smooth but branc~let marginal, very small for pigskin stippling Older parts fissured into 2 x 3- Leaves Cones cm plates 2-3 cm x 2 mm 10-23 x 5 cm Flattened, linear with 2+ keel Cylindrical Bud Sides parallel but tapered at Tip sharply tapered, but with a Round, with domed tip both ends point Resinous 1+-2+ ~Tips pointed, entire on most Bracts exserted ~Bud-scale tips slightlyre- specunens but occasionally flexed rounded and notched Curved 2+ in flat plane Branchlet Margins entire Light brown Flexibility 1+-2+ Shallow fluted grooves ~ Glabrous Flexibility 1++

Distinguishing Characters -Leaves dark green, stiff-pointed, often with small patches of white stomata at the tip of upper surface; bud scarcely resinous Similar Species ·Abtes pinsapo: leaves stiff, pointed, but unlike those of Abies cephalonica dramatically stiff, distributed all around the shoot with no semblance of a V above or below, and with rows of stomata beside the midrib and below X bor~sii-regis: branchlets hairy; leaves shinier and shorter Abies=Ables Xbornmuelleriana: shingled arrangement of leaves on the upper surface like Abies nordmanniana 22

Abies cilicica v ’ ; i’ Carrière: v 1

Abies cilicica grows in Turkey, Syria, and grow in the Arnold Arboretum’s Pinetum Lebanon. (Cilicia is on the southern coast of area; they are 9.5 m and 14 m tall. Asia Minor directly west of Syria./ It has to Abies cilicica and Abies nordmanniana some extent the same distribution as Cedrus are closely allied. Their geographic ranges libani. Hardy in Zone V, it is not common in touch southern Turkey (Abies cilicica) and cultivation, but the Hunnewell Pinetum in northern Turkey (Abies nordmanniana). Wellesley, Massachusetts, has three speci- Abies cilicica has been termed "a weak nord- mens. One of them (of unknown age) is a manniana." patriarch 18 m in height and with a trunk 100 No infraspecific relatives of Abies cilicica cm in diameter. Two 50-year-old specimens grow in the Arnold Arboretum.

Habit Foliage Above Narrow columnar, with Above Pea-green to dark green, shiny spirelike crown Incomplete V Scattered stomata in dorsal Leaves curved forward at groove at the very tip in most Bark 30°-60°, loosely covering shoot plants Beech gray, with stippling Below Grooved arranged circumferentially Incompletely pectinate, No midrib Fissured on old trees and scaly pointing 45° forward Below low down ~ On all sides leaves standing Stomata gray-green apart from each other, Margins not revolute Bud "trying" to~ point all around Midrib prominent 2+ Ovoid, with conical tip the branchlet Keeled 3+ Chestnut brown Resin canals marginal (on Scale tips free Leaves cone-bearing branchlets the Nonresinous 3.0+ cm x 2 mm resin canals are reported to be Flattened, linear median) Branchlets Sides parallel all the way Light brown to yellow except at base and tip Cones Grooved longitudinally in very Tip rounded, with a tiny 14 x 4 cm shallow, wide grooves notch Cylindrical, with noticeable Hairy 2+ Curved 2+ in flat plane taper toward tip, which is Flexibility 2+ Margins entire rounded ~Flexibility 3+ Peduncle very short Bracts hidden

Similar Species ·~lb2es n~fdrnanniana: buds nonresin~pus; resin canals marginal; leaves on upper side of shoot cover it without a V, but much more densely arranged; cone br~~ exserted (not hidden as in Abies cilicicaJ; stomata on the lower surface of leaves far whiter than thp~ pf Abies ciTiciea 23

Abies concolor · 1 1 . WHITE FIR

Abies concolor’s native range is a scattered color (13 Abies concolor, 3 Abies concolor one. On the Pacific coast it is principally in ’Violacea’ [bright-blue foliage], 2 Abies con- California, in the Sierra Nevada and the color ‘Conica’, and 1 Abies concolor’Candi- coastal range extending into Mexico. It also cans’ [very light pale-blue foliage]/, the Arbo- is found in the southern Rocky Mountain retum grows 10 that date from the Nine- states: Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New teenth Century, most of them over 20 m tall, Mexico. The epithet "concolor" refers to the with sturdy trunks of 50-70 cm in diameter at fact that both surfaces of the leaf show the breast height. same blue-gray color. In the Arnold Arboretum Abies concolor Abies concolor is hardy in Zone IV VII, seem to have been particularly vulnerable to and it flourishes in the Arnold Arboretum. hurricanes. The records show that of 64 speci- Along with Abies homolepis, it was one of the mens introduced since 1874, 41 are no longer favorite conifers of Charles Sprague Sargent with us; of those, 21 were uprooted in the when he was Director. Of the total of 19 nor- hurricanes of 1938, 1954, and 1985. mally fast-growing specimens of Abies con-

Habit Branchlet Above Conico-columnar, rounded, Yellow-green or olive-green Light glaucous green different trees favoring one or Glabrous or scarcely hairy ~Stomata so numerousr the other of these contours, Surface regular, no grooves though small, as to give a not entirely depending on homogeneous glaucous color whether they grow crowded or Foliage ~No midrib, but a suggestion in the open Above a shallow groove Crown rounded Leaves pointing forward Belowof Old trees massive, growing to 30°-40° from branchlet Stomata as above but with a 1++ 60 m in their native habitat Gray-green midrib Handsome; one of the best for No V Felt as a keel cultivation Below Resin canals marginal Wide V Bark Pointing 80° from branchlet Cones Smooth whitish gray, with Spreading, curving upward 5 x 12 cm, but many sizes resin blisters, in young trees or ~Leaves above and below Purple when young, brown on new branches of old trees widely spaced later Rough and fissured into 5 x 12- Columnar, but with gradually cm plates on the lower boles of Leaves curving sides and a taper old trees ~ 5-6 cm x 2 mm Ends rounded Can be of corky texture, Linear, flattened in cross- Bracts concealed somewhat resembling Pseudo- section larix amabilis Sides parallel Tips rounded, no notch Bud Curving 3+ towards upper side Broad Margins entire Conico-globular Flexibility 3+ 7 mm long Resinous 2+ Scale tips appressed 24

~il$~ls~ ~~~ts *The widely spa~ec~, glaucous leaves with their characteristic curve are distinctive ~tilar Species ·.~t~ies g~a~tdis: leaves ~s lang ~ those af ~lt~i~ ~anao~cr~, resin canals ~so marginah and .buds alsa resinous, but with n~ stomata on the upper surfac~s t~f its Ieav~s and the leaves not curved (Abies o~r~~o~or v~_ ?o~r~tla tends tc~ resemble Abies ,~r~u~f~ in these featuresj 25

Abies fargesii Franchet : v 1 1

This slow-growing fir comes from China, (Zone V), where there are 2 specimens. The where it grows at elevations of between 2,000 taller is 10 m in height. Abies fargesii is rare m and 3,900 m in the provinces of Hupeh, in collections in the United States, but there Szechuan, Sikiang, Shensi, and Kansu. It was is 1 specimen of it in the Hunnewell Pinetum discovered by the French missionary Pere in Wellesley, Massachusetts. Paul Guillaume Farges, probably about 1892, No infraspecific relatives of Abies fargesii and introduced by Wilson and planted in are recorded. 1911. It is hardy in the Arnold Arboretum

Habit Foliage Above Subconical Above Dark, shiny green Branches upturning, short; Dark, shiny green No stomata reaching 35 m in its native V present Shallow groove habitat Leaves pointing at angles No midrib Thick (80°-90°) from branchlet,right those Below Crowns of old trees flattened on the upper side becoming Stomata gray-white dramatically shorter (to 1 cm) Margins nearly revolute Bark towards the end of branchlet Not keeled Rough and scaly, even in Below Resin canals median youth Pointing 60°-90° from branch- let Cones Buds Peduncle short Columnar Leaves S-8 cm x 3-4 cm Resinous 1.5-2.5 cm x 2.5 mm Bracts markedly exserted and 6 mm Flattened, linear reflexed Reddish Sides bitapered (taper greater at base, almost club-shaped) Branchlet Tip short, rounded with notch iyHomogeneous reddish Not curved brown Margins entire Glabrous Flexibility 2+ Undulant grooves and ridges

Similar Species ·In mid-southern China, Abies fargesii has several neighbors with overlapping habitats: Abies chensiensis (plus its varieties smithii, fabri, and georgii~, and Abies fargesii’s own varieties faxoniana and sutchuensis. These all have bright red-brown branchlets, except for Abies chensiensis and Abies recurvata, on which they are yellow. Because of the rarity of these in cultivation in New England, they are merely listed, not discussed, here. Other than these, Abies fargesii has no competitors for identification. 26

Abies firma ’ 1 11 v Zuccarini: MOMI FIR

The range of Abies firma is the southern half very hardy in Massachusetts, environmental of the Japanese archipelago. It is widespread stress prevents it from assuming the beautiful there, growing at elevations of 50-1,600 m, proportions it demonstrates in Japan. The between 30° and 39° North latitude. It thus epithet "firma" means stout. Sargent wrote also contains the habitat of Abies homolepis, of trees in Japan with trunk diameters of 4 -6 which is discontinuous within it but at a feet (1.2-1.8 m). It is hardy in Zone VI in higher elevation, and which it resembles cultivation in the United States. The Arnold somewhat. Arboretum has 1 mature specimen that is 50 Abies firma reaches 50 m in height in its years old and 18 m tall. native range and has been called the most No infraspecific relatives of Abies firma beautiful of the Japanese firs, but, as Charles have been reported. Sprague Sargent pointed out, although it is

Habit Branchlet Above Reaching 20 m in cultivation Brown-green to yellow-green Shiny green when mature Surface with shallow fissures No stomata Wide, with horizontal as in Abies homolepis, but far Shallow groove branches less conspicuous ~No midrib Pyramidal crown becomes Hairs in the fissures, not on Below broad and often irregular in old the ridges Stomata gray-green age Flexibility 1++ ~Margins revolute Has been called the most beau- Not keeled tiful of the Japanese firs (Bean, Foliage 1976; Liu, 1971/ Above Cones Pectinate, with a wide V 10-12 x 4.5 cm Bark Leaves pointing forward to a Cylindrical but tapered from As in other species of the 75° angle with the branchlet base to outer end, which is genus, young trees and recent Below rounded growth on old trees having Pectinate; angle with branchlet Peduncle short gray bark that is smooth but of 60°-80° Green, turning brown a pebbly, pigskinlike texture Bracts markedly exserted Old bark on old trees rough Leaves with peeling scales rather than 2-3 cm x 2-3 mm thick plates Flattened, linear Sides bitapered Bud ~Tip on young trees bifid, Round, with a slightly conical forming a notch with two tip sharp points on either side of 5x4mm it Milk-chocolate brown, Curved 1+-2+ toward lower scarcely resinous side and 1+ laterally

Bud scales appressed Margins entire _ Flexibility 1++ 27

Dist~nguiish~tg Character ·The characteristic notch at the outer end of the leaf set between two spiny tips is diag- nostic, even if the tree is an older oneand may show this on a very limited number of leaves. If an example does not come forward and no leaf tip is notched, one must look for the very flattened, broad, bitapered leaves with revolute margins, nonwhite stomata below, and scarcely resinous buds. Similar Species ·Abies homolepis: fissures in the branchlets more distinct; leaf stomata whiter below ·Abies zecurvata: leaves mostly recurved and leaf stomata green beloyv; buds very resm- ous ; resin canals marginal ·Abies chensiensis (not diseussed here~: can have sharp-~ointed, notched leaves, but resin canals marginal and cone bracts hidden 28

Abies fraseri 1 ~ · 1 v1 1

Abies fraseri has been called the more south- it has not done well in the Arnold Arboretum. erly version of Abies balsamea. Its range is At present our 2 specimens, which were ac- the southern Appalachian Mountains, the quired as seedlings from the National Arbo- mountainous areas of Virginia, North Caro- retum, are 13 years old. lina, and Tennessee. Although listed as No infraspecific relatives of Abies fraseri hardy to Zone IV and being a mountain tree, grow in the Arnold Arboretum.

Habit Branchlet Above A small tree, reaching no Yellow-gray to red-brown Green, more matte than shiny higher than 25 m Hairs short, stiff, red, in Stomata often in a patch in the Conical in shape when young confluent patches tip of the groove Like Abies balsamea, favored Surface undulating Groove shallow for Christmas trees Flexibility 2+ No midrib Branches tending to ascend Below from the trunk at an angle of Foliage ~Stomata in two ranks of 45° Above 8-12 rows each, whiter than Medium-wide V, often violated in Abies balsamea Bark by aberrant leaves Resin canals median Dark gray, with resin blisters Leaves pointing forward Becoming rough and fissured 60°-80° from branchlet Cones on old trees Below 4-6 x 2.5-3.5 cm ~ Pectinate Cylindrical, but tapered on Bud Leaves pointing forward 45°** both ends Small (2 x 3 mm) from branchlet Green, turning brown Reddish brown Sessile Scales seen as prominent Leaves ~Bracts markedly exserted through the invariable coat of 2cmxlmm resin Flattened, linear Sides parallel Tip rounded, with tiny notch Not curved Margins entire Flexibility 2+

~;~:. Similar Species *Abies balsamea: also has resin blisters on bark of young trees Distinguishing Characters *Has more rows of stomata on the under surface of the leaves and thus shows a whiter underside than does Abies balsamea -Cones, if present, with bracts exserted 29

Abies grandis ~ GRAND1 FIR

Abies grandis is hardy in Zone IV and very successfully to heights of 21 m and 22 m and commonly cultivated in Britain but rare in to diameters of 90 cm and 92 cm, but now are New England. The Arnold Arboretum has hidden away from their neighbors. They are two specimens, one 86, the other 97 years of well worth a visit because of their unique age, that were planted on Hemlock Hill, pectinate foliage. where there was good protection by the ma- No infraspecific relatives of Abies grandis ture hemlocks at that time. They have grown grow in the Arnold Arboretum.

Habit Branchlet Above True to its name, the tallest of Olive green to bright Shiny, dark green the true firs, growing to 100 m red-brown No stomata in its native habitat Faint hairs Prominent groove Popular in cultivation in cli- Shallow longitudinal grooves No midrib mates where it is truly hardy, Flexibility 3+ Below growing rapidly (up to 1 m a Stomata gray-white year) Foliage subrevolute Branches pendulous at their Above MarginsNot keeled bases, turning up at the end so Leaves widely pectinate at Resin canals marginal that the tree in its prime is 70°~0° angle from branchlet narrow columnar and the Below Cones crown spirelike ~As in "Above"" 7-10 x 3-3.5 cm Submarine shaped Bark Leaves Rounded at both ends Young bark (less than 50 years 2-5 cm x 2 mm Green, brown old) gray with a pebbled surface Flattened, linear; proximal Bracts concealedturning Old bark thickened, in broad, ends sharply twisted deep grooves with prominent Sides parallel plates in between Tip rounded and notched Not curved Bud Margins entire Round, resinous Flexibility 3+ Very small (<S mm) Scale tips divergent

Similar Species *Abies concolor var. lowiana: stomata on upper surface of leaves Distinguishing Characters ’The long, parallel-sided, pectinately arranged, separately spaced leaves making the bran- chlets flattened sprays, to an extent not seen in any other fir [except Abies concolor var. lowiana) 30

Abies holophyllaI 1 ~ NEEDLE FIR

Introduced by Ernest H. Wilson in 1905, as plants from the Ames private collection in Abies holophylla comes from northeastern North Easton, Massachusetts, in 1923. They China and Korea, where it has a limited are, respectively, 20 m and 18 m tall and have distribution along the border. It is hardy in boles 67 cm and 30 cm thick. The bark con- Zones V and VI and may prove successful in sists of slightly raised, thin, 2.0-2.5-cm- colder and warmer areas as well. square plates. The Arnold Arboretum grows 6 plants, but No infraspecific relatives of Abies holo- none of the original Wilson introductions phylla are recorded. survive. The oldest are 2 specimens received

Habit Branchlet Leaves Reaches 40-50 m in its native Prominently and Length: 2.5-3.5 cm habitat fissuredridged longitudinally; Width: 2 mm Branches short and ascending, sharplyboth ridges and fissures shal- Flattened, linear crown broad and pyramidal low and broad, unlike those of Sides parallel A graceful, tall tree Abies homolepis, which are ~Tip drawn-out point, narrow no notchlong Bark Glabrous 0-1+ curved in flat plane ~Bark in thin plates on all Milk-chocolate brown Margins entire plants, young and old Flexibility 2+ ’~The smooth, gray, homoge- Foliage Above neous bark of most young Above Matte green firs not seen in Abies V wide No stomata holophylla Leaves pointing forward 80° Groove very shallow from branchlet No midrib Bud Below Below 5 mm Imperfectly pectinate, pointing ~Stomata gray-green Ovate-conic; light brown forward 45° from branchlet Margins not revolute Scales appressed, with con- ~Leaves on both sides Not keeled tours easily visible standing apart from each Resin canals median Resinosity varies but averages other slight (1+-0); in very occa- Cone sional plants, 3+ 8 x 10 cm Cylindrical, with rounded ends Peduncle short Bracts concealed

Distinguishing Character -Youngest bark scaly on trees of any age Similar Species ·Abies borisii-regis: leaves often pointed, but darker green; branchlets hairier ·Firs with conspicuously pointed leaves (excluding Abies bracteata, which is extremely rare and has the widest [3 mm] and longest [up to 6 cm] leaves of the firs): leaves or- derly, glossy green above and white below -Firs with leaves that stand apart from each other (e.g., Abies concolor, Abies grandis, and Abies cilicica): tips of leaves not pointed 31

Abies homolepis ’ 1 1 1 v i.1

Abies homolepis grows in the southern half the Arboretum’s Pinetum, having fulfilled of Japan, between 33° and 37° North latitude Sargent’s predictions. It is of interest, how- at elevations of between 700 m and 2,200 m. ever, that of all 34 specimens of Abies ho- Its range, which is discontinuous, overlaps molepis and its relatives planted starting in that of Abies firma, which is more densely 1880 none of the 16 that are no longer with us distributed. "Homolepis" means "similar were uprooted in hurricanes. For contrast scales." It formerly was called Abies brachy- with Abies concolor in this respect, see page phylla ("short leaves"), in contrast to many 23. other firs. It is hardy to Zone V. Charles Sprague Sargent, writing 70 years ago, re- Abies Xumbellata marked on how well Abies homolepis and Abies xumbellata is a relative of Abies Abies concolor flourished here in their early homolepis, recognized by Ernest Wilson years. They have continued to do so. under the name Abies homolepis var. umbel- TheArnoldArboretum’s holdings ofAbies lata. It differs in that its cone tips are umbili- homolepis and its infraspecific relatives are cated to more than those of the species. Most 18 trees, several about 100 years old. (The recent opinion considers it to be a hybrid total number of plants of this group of Abies between Abies homolepis and Abies firma, homolepis growing in the Arnold Arboretum and its name has been changed to Abies is: Abies homolepis, 9; Abies Xumbellata, xumbellata. 8; Abies homolepis forma tomomi, 1 ; or, 188 in all. Seven were acquired before 1900 and Abies homolepis forma tomomi others soon thereafter [2 in 1902 and 4 in Abies homolepis forma tomomi has slightly 1908]. ~ As with Abies concolor, the tallest are shorter leaves and is less densely branched 20-25 m tall, and their boles are up to 100 cm than the species. in diameter. They are important features of

Habit Branchlet Leaves A broad-growing tree with long Yellow-brown 2.5 cm x 2 mm branches and a dome-shaped Glabrous Flattened, linear crown, conspicuously broad in 9’Longitudinally ridged and Sides parallel to 1+ + bitapered old age fissured with fissures so Tip rounded, sometimes entire narrow that the whole but usually a small notch Bark contour is grossly smooth Curved 0-1+ Rough and scaly over the resin Flexibility 1+ Above blisters, unlike most other firs, Dark green, not conspicuously even on young trees Foliage shiny Scales small and thin at first, Above No stomata in old trees coarse, with 3 x 10- Conspicuous V Groove medium cm scales Leaves pointing 80°-90° from No midrib branchlets Below Buds Below Stomata gray-white Rounded, with a conical point Incompletely pectinate, Margins not revolute 6 mm 60°-90° from branch- Midrib 1++ Resinous 2+ pointinglet Not keeled Scales appressed but promi- Resin canals median nent 32

Cones 8x3cm Purple when young, brown when mature Evenly bitapered (submarine-shaped) Sessile Bracts hidden

~~S~3l~t~~tig Characters ·~~ sturdy, yellow, giabr~ bxan~let~ ~th the tig~t, deep £~a,sux~s ax~ neairly~ unique ~ina.i~a~c Species ·~4.b~es ~o~~~.~~ll~: branchlets prominently ridged but not with narrow fissu~r~~F leaves long and pointed ·A~~es firma t~~s o£ young leaves bi£~c~; Even without tb~t~ l~eau~ broad~ very flat, bitape~red; furrows c~£ branchlets not ~x~r~c~~ and deep 33

Abies koreana1 E. · Wilson : KOREAN FIR

The range ofAbies koreana is southern Korea tall and has a trunk 70 cm in diameter. and the volcanic island of Cheju Do (Quel- The prostrate forms, usually called Abies part) up to elevations of 2,000 m. The type koreana ’Prostrate Beauty’, follow the ten- specimen is in the herbarium of the Arnold dency of the types to set cones when young. Arboretum in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It They are popular in dwarf-conifer collec- is hardy from Zone V to Zone VII. tions. Six specimens are growing in the Ar- The Arnold Arboretum grows six speci- nold Arboretum’s collections of dwarf coni- mens of Abies koreana, one of them an origi- fers, where there are also two plants of Abies nal specimen from the group introduced to koreana ’Aurea’. the West by Ernest Wilson in 1917. It is 18 m

Habit Branchlet Curved 1+ toward upper side A slow-growing tree, rarely Light gray-green Margins entire reaching more than 20 m in Lustrous Flexibility 1+-2+ height Scattered hairs Above Pyramidal when young No undulations or furrows Matte dark green Crown becoming broad with No stomata age Foliage Shallow groove Foliage dark and rather dense Above and below No midrib ~Ixnves pointing all around, Below Bark less dense below Stomata very white and broad Gray No V Margins not revolute Smooth when young, later Pointing forward at angles Not keeled rough, with deep grooves from branchlet of 45° to Midrib narrow veryand plates almost 90° Resin canals median (occasion- Resinous Viewed end-on, a circular ally submarginal) rosette of green leaves offset- Bud ting the cluster of three Cones 5 mm resinous buds, with flashes of S-7 x 2.5-2.8 cm Round, with blunt, pyramidal white to the under surface Cylindrical; narrower at tip rounded ends Covered with resin that Leaves Violet when young obscures the scales 1-1.5 cm x 2+ cm Bracts markedly exserted Flattened, linear Cones readily produced Sides bitapered but wider at tip ~Many young plants bear Tip curved, with tiny notch or cones no notch

Similar Species ·Abies sachalinensis and Abies veitchii: leaves longer but conspicuously more flexible than those of Abies koreana -Abies sachalinensis: stomata on undersides of leaves dull white; bark smooth until an advanced age ·Abies veitchii: undersides of leaves very white but bark smooth and bract scales of the cones hidden or their tips barely visible *Abies nephrolepis: leaves also longer than those of Abies koreana, linear (not bitapered), with dull-white stomata below; bark smooth; more hairs on branchlet; cone scales kidney-shaped 34

Abies lasiocarpaI (Hooker) , SUBALPINE 1

With the exception of Abies balsamea, Abies has been slow to average. Acquired in 1942, lasiocarpa is the most widely distributed 1958, and 1966, they are 11, 3, and 2.5 m tall, species of Abies in the United States. Hardy respectively. in Zones V-VI, it grows from southern Alaska to the Mexican border in the Rocky Abies lasiocarpa var. arizonica Mountains (35°-63° North latitude), often in Abies lasiocarpa var. arizonica (Merriam) association with Picea engelmannii. In addi- Lemmon is a common variety, more popular tion, it occurs in the mountains of Washing- as an ornamental than the species. It is distin- ton and Oregon. guished from the species by its more in- "Lasiocarpa" (meaning "hairy fruit") re- tensely whitish blue leaves, which have fers to the hirsuteness of of the cones. "Sub- emarginate tips, and by its corky bark (hence alpine," an adjective commonly applied to its common English name, cork-bark fir).I. this species, is appropriate, since Abies lasio- There is one handsome specimen in the carpa is a mountain tree. Arnold Arboretum. Dating from 1932, it is Alfred Rehder stated that Abies lasiocarpa now 20 m tall; its trunk is 40 cm in diameter. "does not do well in the eastern states." It is In the Arboretum’s dwarf-conifer collec- hardy in the Arnold Arboretum, which con- tion there are three specimens of Abies lasio- tains three mature trees in addition to the carpa ’Compacta’. variety arizonica. The growth of the three

Habit Branchlet Above Narrow, spirelike, with short, Silvery tan, almost fawn- ~fAfatte green2014gra~ upcurved, dense branches colored on some ~Distal half with two bands Can grow to 40 m but winds at Grooved shallowlyplants of several rows of tiny timberline in its native habitat No fissures stomata discourage such statures Hairy 1 +-scattered, in grooves ~Shallow groove No midrib Bark Foliage Below Smooth, gray, slightly rough- Above Two bands of light-gray ened when young, with resin Gray stomata blisters Incomplete V or no V Margins not revolute Bark of older trees rougher, Leaves pointing forward at 45° Midrib prominent fissured from branchlet Resin canals median Bark on some plants with Below rusty tinge Incompletely pectinate, leaves Cones forward 30°~0° from 8-10 x 3.5 cm Bud pointingbranchlet Cylindrical to submarine- 5-6 mm shaped Ovate Leaves Bracts hidden Resinous 2.5 cm x <2 mm Purple when young Scales obscured by the resin Flattened, linearr Sides parallel Tip round, with tiny notch Curved 1+ toward upper surface Margins entire Flexibility 2+ 35

Distinguishing Characters ·One of the few members of the genus with full lines of stomata on the upper surface of leaves, the others being Abies concolor, Abies magnifica, Abies pinsapo, and Abies procera Similar Species ·Abies concolor: leaves much longer and more widely spaced spaced; resin canals mar- ginal -Abies magnifica: leaves quadrangular in cross section and running parallel to the shoot before spreading from it -Abies pinsapo: leaves 4+ stiff, at right angles to the branchlet, very pointed -Abies procera: leaves like those of Abies magnifica but not quadrangular in cross section 36

Abies magnifica1 A. Murray : RED0 FIR

Abies magnifica grows in northern Califor- cm tall and not thriving, but no specimens of nia and southern Oregon, its range being the species. We list it here chiefly for com- more southerly and at slightly higher parison with Abies procera, which also ap- elevations (35° 40’-45° 3’ North latitude and pears in the Arboretum only in its dwarf 1,400-2,700 m) than that of Abies procera form. The Hunnewell Pinetum in Wellesley, (41°-48° 30’ North latitude and 900-2,000 Massachusetts, does possess a specimen 177 m), which in some ways it resembles, par- years old and 1.5 m tall. It is healthy but not ticularly in the presence of stomata on the fast-growing. upper surface of its leaves and the arrange- ment of the leaves at their origins from the Abies magnifica var. shastensis branchlets. It is reputed to be hardy in the Even though the Arnold Arboretum does not warmer parts of Zone V but less frost hardy possess a specimen of it, we list Abies than Abies procera. The name "red fir" de- magnifica var. shastensis Lemmon here be- rives from the color of the bark. The transla- cause it is well known as a natural variety. It tion of the Latin name to "magnificent fir" is is distinguished from the type because the more appropriate and is sometimes used. bract scales on its cones are exserted. This The Arnold Arboretum grows only 1 speci- suggests that it is a hybrid between Abies men-Abies magnifica ‘Nana’-which is 50 magnifica and Abies procera.

Habit Branchlets Above A columnar tree with a Red-brown Gray-green spirelike head, one of the most Shallowly grooved longitudi- ~Stomata present in two full elegant known nally bands Can grow to 70 m in the wild Hairy ~Nogr oove (trees cultivated in Britain for Small midrib over 100 years have reached Foliage Below about half that height) Above Stomata in two gray-white Trunks of mature trees often Gray-green ranks branchless for half their No V, leaves bran- Keel present heights chlets at theirparallelling origins, then Resin canals marginal turning at right angle outward Bark and upward Cones Smooth (but for resin blisters Below 15-25 x 10-12 cm in youth) and very light gray As in "Above," but spray more Sessile or nearly so Becoming deeply furrowed m flattened Purple at first, brown when reddish inner mature bg~e~revealingbar Leaves Nearly cylindrical, thick 2-3 cm x 2 mm Bract scales hidden Buds Flattened, linear Ovoid, acute at tip Sides parallel Brown Tips rounded, without notch Small, 4 mm Not curved but angled as Hard to see because terminal described leaves crowd about them Margins entire Resinous on the upper aspect Flexibility 1++ 37

Similar Species ·Abies procera (its only "look-alike"): leaves with dorsal groove (appear diamond-shaped in cone not cross-section); bracts hidden _

Abies nephrolepis ~ . FIR

The native range of Abies nephrolepis is Ernest Wilson considered that its name North Korea. Some have called it the eastern- should be Abies sibirica var. nephrolepis. Asiatic form of Abies sibirica. The specific The Arnold Arboretum has 3 specimens, epithet "nephrolepis" refers to its cone all of them over 60 years of age. One, forma scales, which, when looked at individually, chlorocarpa Wilson (cones green when are kidney-shaped; this characteristic is not young), was introduced by Wilson in 1917 and different enough to distinguish it from other is now a beautiful tree 20 m in height. No members of the genus. Alfred Rehder and other infraspecific forms are known.

Habit Foliage Above Columnar, broad, conical, Above Dull green short branches V; pointing forward 60° from No stomata Crown conical, becoming branchlet Groove present irregular Below No midrib Pectinate; pointing forward 60° Below Bark from branchlet Stomata dull white Beech gray, pebbly Margins not revolute Becomes shallowly fissured on Leaves Not keeledi midrib thin old trees 2cmx2mm Resin canals median Flattened, linear Bud Sides parallel Cones Conical, blunt Tip rounded, with notch 5 x 2.5 cm Light reddish brown Not curved Cylindrico-ellipsoid Resinous Margins entire Purple, brown Scales in relief Flexibility 3+ Bracts exsertedturning under theprominent resin Branchlet Yellow-gray Shallowly ribbed or grooved Hairy 2+

Similar Species ·Abies sachalinensis and Abies sibirica (see the table on page 45) -:<::..,.:.:;..::.:--::~~,;,a:~:..-:.:.-v:<~:..-r.::::..:....i ::-r:<:::.r:-<:,:.: 38

Abies nordmannianaI (Steven) 1 . CAUCASIAN 1

The range of Abies nordmanniana lies just tall and with boles 55 and 64 cm in diameter, east of the eastern shore of the Black Sea. they are among the most impressive speci- Introduced to the West (Britain) in 1836, it is mens in the Arboretum’s Pinetum. a strong, beautiful addition to collections in The only infraspecific relative in the Ar- the British Isles. Named after Alexander nold Arboretum is Abies nordmanniana Nordmann ( 1803~6j, a Finnish botanist and ’Pendula’, which grows at the same rate as the one of its discoverers, Abies nordmanniana species but differs from it by the exaggerated is hardy in Zones V-VII. pendulosity of its branches. Although 30 The Arnold Arboretum acquired two ma- years old, it has lost its crown and is only 2 m ture, narrow and tall specimens from a nurs- tall. ery in Holland in 1903. Twenty-six meters

Habit Branchlet Leaves Growing to 60 m in the Cau- Olive, with a brownish tinge 2-3 cm x 2.5 mm casus Mountains Surface shallowly grooved Linear, curving 2+ in the flat Conical, with a narrow, (fissured) longitudinally spirelike crown No undulations or ridges planeMidrib 2+, thickened in a keel, Main branches horizontal, Covered with moderately as are the side ribs lower branches sweeping dense, short, stiff hairs Sides parallel downwards Tip rounded, notched Living up to its reputation of Foliage Curving 2+ in the flat plane having an impressive, lordly Above Margins entire aspect ~Leaves on most shoots Flexibility 1++ Starting to grow late in spring shingled, i.e., no V, but all Above (a characteristic useful in culti- pointin forward at an Glossy 1++ vation), which makes it insen- angle of 35°-45° from the No stomata sitive to late frosts shoot and covering it Groove prominent Below Midrib prominent Bark Leaves pointing forward at a Below Smooth above to rough below 60° anglee Stomata white-gray Grayish when smooth; Imperfectly pectinate, making Margins not revolute brownish when rough a wide, irregular V Keel on midrib Resin canals marginal Bud ~Red-brown, conical-ovate, Cones not resinous 5 x 14 cm Cylindrical, tip pointed Bracts just exserted

Similar Species =Abies albaa leaves also shiny, with notched tips, nonresinous buds, and hairy bran~~· lets, but arranged in a pectinate V above the branchlet -Abies amabilis : leaves above likewise cover the branchlet but are flexible 3~ and vcca- sionally have some stomata on the tip of the upper surface 39

Abies pinsapoI Boissier : SPANISH 1

The native range of Abies pinsapo is a local- Zone VI into parts of Zone VIII. ized one near Ronda in southern Spain, where it was discovered and described and whence it Infraspecific Relatives was introduced to cultivation early in the The most common horticultural variety is Eighteenth Century by Pierre Boissier ’Glauca’, one specimen of which is in the (1810-85). Because its short, stiff, sharp holdings of the Arnold Arboretum. It was leaves emerge at right angles, it has been accessioned 44 years ago and is a sturdy plant called by some the "hedgehog fir." It is not 7.5 m tall. uncommon in cultivation and is hardy from

Habit Foliage Above Relatively short branches set ~Short leaves radiating Matte green in making for a around branchlet Covered with tiny white columnar,pseudowhorls, or narrow, pyrami- Above stomata in two bands on either dal tree Leaves at right angle (90°) to side of slightly elevated midrib Growing up to 30 m branchlet Below Below Two bands of gray stomata Bark Leaves at right angle (90°) to Midrib definite but not Remaining remarkabl smooth branchlet conspicuous on the lower trunks of certain No V on either side but leaves Not keeled trees, but rough in most less dense on underside Resin canals median Some leaves occasionally Bud recurved Cones Small (3 mm) 10-12 x 3~ cm Resinous Leaves Subcylindrical, submarine- Scale visible in relief 1-1.5 cm x 2 mm shaped under tipsthe resin Flattened, linear Sessile Sides parallel, bordering on Bracts hidden Branchlet bitapered Glabrous ~Tip an obtuse horny point; Surface rusty red not notched Conspicuously grooved and Curving 1+ toward underside fissured Margins entire ~Flexibility 0

Distinguishing Characters ·Leaves short, stiff, at right angles to branchlet Similar Species ·Looks superficially like a spruce, particularly the tiger-tail spruce (Picea polita~, which has similarly stiff leaves *The roughness of the branchlet surfaces at the points where the leaves are attached resembles that seen in Picea polita ·If no sterigmas at the leaf attachments and if specimen belongs to the genus Abies, the only confusion would be with a hybrid of Abies pinsapo and Abies nordmanniana 40

(Abies Xinsignis), Abies cephalonica (Abies XvilmoriniiJ, or Abies numidica (Abies Xmarocana/; though uncommon, these hybrids of Abies pinsapo must be suspected in specimens with stiff, short, prickly leaves that are not entirely characteristic of the species, Abies pinsapo, itself 41

Abies proceraI ~ ’ 1 ’ ~ 1 i 1

One of the tallest trees of the West Coast still living, some survived until 1968. Speci- ("procera" means tall, or slender), the noble mens planted as long ago as 1840 were regis- fir grows on the western slope of the Cascade tered as still living in the early 1970s (Bean, Mountains, from Washington to upper north- 1976, Volume 1, page 65). The only examples ern California. Its range is continuous with of the species in the Arnold Arboretum are that of Abies magnifica, which, although it dwarfs, the well known beautiful cultivars overlaps with that ofAbies procera, is primar- ’Glauca’ and’Glauca Prostrata’, on which the ily south of the California-Oregon border. As characteristics of the typical foliage can be noted under Abies magnifica, these two spe- studied. cies can be regarded as "nonidentical twins."" In the United States Abies procera is just They share many characteristics. hardy to Zone V but not common. The Hun- Abies procera was described by David newell Pinetum in Wellesley, Massachu- Douglas in 1825 and introduced into Great setts, grows one specimen (under its earlier Britain, where it has always flourished. Al- name, Abies nobilis). It is 4.5 m high, and the though none of the original introductions are bole is 5 cm in diameter at breast height.

Habit Foliage Above Reaching 80 m in its native Above Matte green habitat Incomplete V; most leaves in a ~Stomata in bands on both Bole straight; can remain un- wide V, but many singles sides of shallow groove (in branched for over 40 m arising in center of it; all some cases a lens is needed Branches relatively short, 70°-90° from the to observe this) making for a narrow crown pointingbranchlet No midrib but upper surface that is, however, rounded at its Below can be slightly convex and top Pectinate with occasional surmounted by the groove strays; forward which can change to a midrib Bark 60°~0°pointing from the branchlet near the tip Smooth, reddish gray for many ~Leaves both above and Below years, eventually becoming below characteristically Stomata small, numerous, rough with soft plates runniag forward parallel to white the branchlet for 2 mrn Margins not revolute Bud before departing at the Midrib prominent Very small, about 3 mm (hard angle mentioned (seen more Resin canals marginal to see among the terminal easily from the lower aspect forward-growing leaves) of the branchlet); similar in Cones Resinous this feature to Abies magni- 10-15x6-7 cm Scale tips divergent fica Sub cylindrical (submarine- or blimplike) Branchlet Leaves Green when young, turning Reddish brown 2-3cmx2mm brown Hairy 1++ Linear, flattened Bracts strongly exserted and Surface regular Tip rounded, notched or not reflexed Suggestion of longitudinal notched grooves Curved 1-2+ toward lower surface Margins entire Flexibility 1-2+ 42

#:. , Similar Species ·Abies concolor: stomata in full bands on the upper surfaces of leaves but leaves long, flexible, widely spaced ·Abies lasiocarpa: stomata in full bands on the upper surfaces of leaves but leaves extend from the branchlet directly, with no appressing of the initial few millimeters; resm canals median; cone bract scales hidden ·Abies magnifica: stomata in full bands on the upper surfaces of leaves (resembles Abies pxz~~x~ more than any other species), but leaves have no groove on their upper surface and cones have hidden bracts (Note: Cone bracts of Abies magnifica var. shastensis exserted; if none available, one must rely on leaf characteristics) ·Abies pinsapo: stomata in full bands on the upper surfaces of leaves but lcaves rigid 4+, with no groove on upper side; tips horny; at right angles to branchlets -See also Abies lasiocarpa 43

Abies recurvata~ M. T. Masters: MIN 1

The English name of Abies recurvata derives Wilson in 1911. It has been a slow grower; the from the Min River in central China (Sze- tallest of the Arboretum’s trees is 9 m tall. chuan), where the tree grows between 25° and The Hunnewell Pinetum in Wellesley, Mas- 45° North latitude. Hardy in Zone V, it is sachusetts, grows one plant. uncommon in cultivation. Abies recurvata is not recorded as having Three plants grow in the Arnold Arbore- cultivars or infraspecific forms. tum, all from the original introduction by

Habit Branchlet Above Reaches 40 m in its native Silvery yellow-gray Shiny green, often pale habitat Glabrous No stomata Pyramidal, the crown becom- Flexibility 1+ Shallow groove ing flattened with age Surface undulate with shallow, No midrib wide grooves and ridges Below Bark Stomata green Gray or red-brown Foliage Margins revolute 1++ Smooth in youth, later Above Not keeled becoming rough with 2- to 3- Stiff sturdy leaves point back- Resin canals marginal cm-long flaking plates wards, often to 60° from branchlet Cones Budd ~Many leaves nearly at a 6x4cm 5-7 mm or larger right angle, occasionally Chunky, conical, with rounded Light grayish brown with a slightly forward ends roseate tinge Below Purple until maturity, then Covered with gray resin Same as "Above" brown through which the outlines of Bracts hidden the prominent bud scales can Leaves be seen in relief 2-3 cm x 3 mm Flattened, linear Sides bitapered Tip pointed Flexibility 1-2+

Distinguishing Characters . Leaves recurved and green beneath, making it difficult to confuse Abies recurvata with any other species of Abies 44

Abies sachalinensis M. T. Masters: SACHALINB 1

Abies sachalinensis (formerly called Abies years old and 17 and 18 m tall, respectively. veitchii var. sachalinensis ) is restricted to the One of our specimens is the variety mayri- Kurile and Sachalin Islands and to Hokkaido, ana, which came as seed in 1932 from the northern island of Japan. Its relationship Hokkaido. It is now 12 m tall. to certain neighboring firs-Abies sibirica In addition to Abies sachalinensis var. and Abies nephrolepis-has been noted. It is mayriana Miyabe & Kudo, the only other re- hardy from Zones II-VI. The Arnold Arbore- corded infraspecific relative is Abies sachal- tum grows seven specimens, two of them at inensis var. nemorensis Mayr, which has the Case Estates in Weston, Massachusetts. smaller cones than the species and hidden Two of those growing at the Arnold Arbore- bracts; it does not grow in the Arnold Arbore- tum itself (in Jamaica Plain) are 105 and 93 tum.

Habit Foliage Above Growing to 40 m Above Shiny green Columnar Incomplete V, leaves pointing No stomata (occasionally a few Dense foliage in the crown forward 30° in the groove at the tip) Below Groove well defined Bark Pectinate with occasional No midrib Gray strays; leaves pointing forward Below Pebbly, otherwise smooth, 30°; rather closely set Dull white even in older trees, but in Stomata very small and them finally becoming scaly Leaves numerous in narrow bands 3-3.5 cm x 1.25-1.5 mm Margins not revolute Bud Flattened, linear Not keeled Conical, with a domed tip Sides parallel the whole length Resin canals median and con- Resinous 4+ of the leaf spicuously large Scales prominently bulging, Tip blunt, with tiny notch but tips not spreading Curved 1++ Cones Conspicuously white Margins entire 7x2cm Flexibility 3+ Between ellipsoid and cylindri- Branchlet cal Gray-brown Coffee-colored Furrowed gently longitudinally Bracts exserted Hairy 3+

Similar Species *Abies nephrolepis and Abies sibixic~ (which have thin, £~exibl.e, regularly ar~ange~ leaves) are the species that most resemble Abies sachalinensis (see Abies sibirica for c~iscussic~~n~I 45

Abies sibiricaI ’ 1 1 1 SIBERIANB 1

The range of Abies sibirica lies between 40° tion of Abies sibirica will not be made below, and 140° East longitude, from Moscow al- but only its differences from Abies sachal- most to the Sea of Okhotsk, the most inensis mentioned. It is hardy to Zone II. extensive in the genus Abies. Because of its The Arnold Arboretum grows one speci- great resemblance to its neighboring species, men, now 40 years old, that is 12 m tall and 30 Abies sachalinensis, a systematic descrip- cm in diameter.

Similar Species ·Abies saehalinensis: branchlets ribbed (not ribbed in Abies sibirica/, stomata below dull white (white in Abies sibirica), cone bracts exserted (hidden or only slightly exserted in Abies sibirica/. See the table, below.

1 1 Three Similar ~’ 1 Abies

Three members of the genus Abies, neighbors in eastern Asia, Abies nephrolepis, Abies sachalinensis, and Abies sibirica, are strikingly similar. All three have resinous buds; hairy branchlets; narrow, flexible, linear leaves with parallel sides; and large, median resin canals. The following table lists some features-unfortunately not always constant-that help to distinguish them. 46

Abies veitchii ~ . i 1 1

A rather small fir whose native range extends Six specimens grow in the Arnold Arbore- from central Japan southwards in detached tum. Two of them are historic. One dates populations, Abies veitchii was introduced from 1895, having been provided by the to cultivation in the West by John Gould Veitch Nursery; it is 17 m tall and has a bole Veitch (1839-70), the illustrious English that is 47 cm thick. The other historic speci- botanist and nurseryman. Veitch made two men is Abies veitchii var. olivacea (the extensive collecting trips to the Far East, one epithet olivacea derives from the olive-green in 1860 and one in 1864-66. He died in 1870 color of the cone when it is young). Intro- at the age of 31, leaving his name attached to duced by Ernest H. Wilson in 1915, it is 12.3 hundreds of plants, and a legacy of plant col- m tall and has a trunk 40 cm in diameter. A lecting that has been carried on in his name scion of Wilson’s tree was grafted onto an for 100 years. It was under the Veitch firm understock of Abies balsamea in 1959. that Ernest Wilson got his start. Planted out in the Pinetum in 1969, it is Abies veitchii is subalpine and seldom thriving. These are the only infraspecific seen below 1,500 m. It is hardy in Zones relatives of Abies veitchii. III-vi.

Habit Branchlet Above Slender, with short, level Gray-yellow Shiny green branches when young Covered with short hairs No stomata Cylindrical, with a spirelike Surface regular Groove shallow crown; in maturity, branches Unribbed No midrib more wide-spreading, forming Below a broadly pyramidal tree Foliage ~Stomata chalky blue-white Above Margins revolute 1++ V occasionally incomplete Midrib and marginal green Bark Leaves pointing forward 45° bands thin Gray, only slightly from branchlet Resin canals median to sub- roughenedbecoming in old age Below marginal Smooth, with resin blisters Pectinate Leaves pointing forward 45° Cones Bud from branchlet 6x2cm 4 mm Cylindrical Spherico-conical Leaves Sessile Red-brown 2-3cmx2mm Purple, turning dark brown Resinous Flattened, linear Bracts slightly exserted Sides parallel ’ Tip truncated, notched Not curved Margins entire Flexibility 3-4+

Similar Species ·Abies nephrolepis, Abies sachalinensis, and Abies sibirica: leaves also parallel-sided, flexible; resin canals median; branchlets hairy; and buds resinous, but the whiteness of the undersides of their leaves far less bright ·Abies delavayi group: undersides of leaves also white, but branchlets conspicuously red-brown and midrib and marginal green bands of leaves very prominent; leaves stiffer 47

and resin canals marginal; undersides of leaves tending to be revolute -Abies koreana: undersides of leaves bright white, but leaves radially arranged and con- spicuously shorter than those of Abies veitchii; cone bracts prominently exserted and reflexed

Glossary of Terms

Adaxial. Facing toward the axis. Midrib, siderib. Narrow, green, longitudi- Diaecious. Having staminate and pistillate nal bands on the under surface of a leaf, stomata. If elements on separate plants. framing the bands of the midrib is raised, the leaf is "keeled." Emarginate. With a shallow notch at the apex (as of a leaf). Monaecious. Having staminate and pistil- late elements on the same Entire. Margin continuous, not broken by plant. An divisions, teeth, or serrations. Pectinate. arrangement, usually of leaves, in which parts relate to each other Exserted. Projecting beyond an encircling in a comblike fashion. Most Abies leaves organ or part. spread in two lateral ranks, creating a "V" Glabrous. free of or Smooth; roughness between them that can from wide to hairs. vary incomplete or nearly absent. In a the of thick- Hypoderm. leaf, layer Resin canal or resin duct. An intercellular walled cells between the and the epiderm space lined with resin-secreting cells. mesophyll. Revolute. Rolled backward or downward, as the of white-of- Glairy. Having appearance the edge of a leaf. egg. (Said of resin.) Sessile. Attached at the base, Of taxonomic rank lower immediately Infraspecific. with no intervening stalk or pedicel. than a For the rank of species. convenience, A from cultivar is included here, although strictly Sterigama. peg-shaped projection the surface of a stem or of a branchlet to it is inaccurate to do so. which a leaf is attached. Keeled. Having an under surface longitudi- Stoma (plural, stomata). The pore in a leaf, nally ridged like the bottom of a boat. usually on its lower surface, appearing as a Lenticel. area on a Roughened plant’s whitish or grayish dot, and arranged in surface that allows exchange of gasses rows. between the atmosphere and the internal of the Umbilicate. Depressed or indented like a structure plant. navel. Linear. Long and narrow. In the case of a conifer leaf, the term infers that the leaf’s sides are parallel. 48

.

Bean, W. J., 1976. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in the British Isles. Eighth Edition, Volume 3. Lon- don : John Murray. 973 pages. Dallimore, W. S., and A. B. Jackson, 1966. A Hand- book of Coniferae and Ginkgoaceae. Fourth Edition. London: Arnold. 729 pages. Flint, Harrison L., 1983. Landscape Plants for Eastern North America: Exclusive of Florida and the Immediate Gulf Coast. New York: Wiley. 677 pages. Krussmann, Gerd, 1985. Manual of Cultivated Conifers. Translated by Michael E. Epps. Port- land, Oregon: Timber Press. 361 pages. Liu, T.-S., 1971. A Monograph of the Genus Abies. National Taiwan University Press. 609 pages. Mitchell, A. F. 1972. Conifers in the British Isles. London: Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. 322 pages. 322 pages. Rehder, Alfred, 1940. Manual of Cultivated Trees and Shrubs. Second Edition. New York: Macmillan. 966 pages. Shaw, George Russell, 1914. The Genus Pinus. Cambridge, Massachusetts: The Riverside Press. 96 pages Virgil (Publius Vergilius Maro), circa 19 B.C. The ~Eneid. Book II. In: J. W. Mackail, translator, 1950, Virgil’s Works. New York: Modem Li- brary, 1950. Warren, Richard, 1982. "Spruces in the Arnold Arboretum," Arnoldia, Volume 42, Number 3, (Summer), pages 102-129.

Richard Warren, M.D., is Honorary Curator of the Conifer Collection and an Associate of the Arnold Arboretum. He is Professor of Surgery Emeritus in the Harvard Medical School, where he had taught for twenty-seven years, retiring in 1973. Ethan W. Johnson is Curatorial Assistant in the Plant Records Depart- ment of the Arnold Arboretum. In 1980 he received his associate degree in forestry from Paul Smiths College and, in 1984, his bachelor’s degree in environmental horticultute from the University of Connecticut. He came to the Arnold Arboretum in 1985.