Abies
(from abeo, to rise; alluding to the aspiring habit of growth of the three; or, according to some, from apios, a Pear-tree, in allusion to the form of the fruit). Spruce Fir. The synonymy of this genus is much confused, plants belonging to several genera being frequently referred to Abies in nurserymen's catalogues and gardening periodicals. ORD. Coniferae. A genus of about twenty-five species, widely distributed over the mountainous regions of the Northern hemisphere. Cones cylindrical, or but slightly tapering, erect; catkins generally solitary, partially scattered in insertion, and more or less two-ranked in direction. Scales deciduous, falling off as soon as the seed is ripe, leaving the axis on the three. All the species bear seeds at a comparatively early age; most are hardy. For culture, see Pinus. A amabilis (lovely).* shoots rather rigid, furrowed with elongated cushions, covered with numerous small dark hairs. L scattered, crowded, 1 1/2in. to 2in. long; linear obtuse, dark green above, silvery beneath. The cones are described as cylindrical and about 6in. long h.180ft. California. 1831. A magnificent conifer, very massive in appearance.
A baborenisis.* l. linear, dark green, silvery on the under surface, very numerous, those of the larger branches shortly pointed, and those of the branchlets more obtuse and pointless, 1/2in. to 1in. long. Cones erect, cylindrical usually in clusters of four or five, 5in. to 8in. long, and about 2in. in diameter; scales reniform, grayish-brown, inclosing a thin, dry, and shriveled bract. J. 40ft. to 60ft. Algiers, 1864. this is a very beautiful medium-sized tree. SYN. A. Numidica.
A. A. balsamea.* Balm of Gilead or Balsam Fir, l. silvery beneath, apex emarginated or entire, somewhat recurved and spreading, 3/4in. long. Coves cylindrical, violet-coloured, pointing upwards, 4in. to 5in. long, and 1/2in. broad; scales 3/4in. broad and the same in length. J. 40ft. to 60ft. United States and Canada, &c., 1696. A medium-sized slender tree. A. bifida (bifid). Identical with A. firma.
A. brachyphylla (short-leaved).* l linear, spirally inserted round the branchlets, but pointing laterally in two directions, 3/4in. to 11/2in. in length; lower ones longest, obtusely pointed or emrginate, bright green above, with two silvery lines beneath. cones 3in. to 4in. long purple. H. 120ft. Japan, 1870. A recently introduced magnificent fir, with an erect stem, regularly whorled horizontal branches.
A. bracteata (bracted).* l. rigid, linear, flat, distichous, 2in. to 3in long, bright glossy green above, and glaucous beneath. comes about 4in. long, with the bracts developed into long rigid leaf-like linear spines, 2in. long, slightly curved inwards. J. 25ft. Southern California, 1853. A very handsome tall slender tree, but, owing to its very early growth of new shoots, it is much injured by the spring frosts.
A. Brunoniana (Brown's). Synonymous with Tsuga Brunoniana. A. Canadensis (Canadian). A synonym of Tsuga Canadensis. A. cephalonica (Cephalonian).* l. subulate, flat, dark green above, and silvery beneath, acute. cones erect, cylindrical, green when young, afterwards reddish, and brown when ripe, 5in. to 6in. in length, and about 1 1/2in. in diameter; scales broad, thin, and rounded, shorter than the bracts. J. 50ft. to 60ft. Mountains of Greece, 1824. A very desirable tree for growing in exposed situations.
A. cilicica (Cilician). l. linear, slightly curved or straight, 1in. to 1 1/2in. long, dark greenabove, and glaucousbeneath, crowded, in two ranks. comes cylindrical, 6in. to 8in. long; scales broad, thin, entire, coriaceous. J. 40ft. to 60ft. Mount Taurus, in Asia Minor. This species seldom produces a good specimen three in England, and cannot, therefore, be recommended for general cultivation.
A. concolor (one-coloured).* l. linear, flat, obtuse, glaucous green, distichously arranged in double rows, those in the lower rows 2in. to 3in, long, upper ones shorter, channeled above. Comes cylindrical obtuse both at base and top, 3in. to 5in. long, 2in. to 2 1/2in. in diameter; scales numerous, imbricated, larger than the bracts. J. 80ft. to 150ft. California, &c., 1851. A very beautiful species, with yellow bark on the young branches. SYNS. A. lasiocarpa and A. Parsonii.
A. Douglasii (Douglas'). A synonym of Pseudotsuga Douglasii. A. dumosa (short-leaved). Synonymous with Tsuga Brunoniana. A. excelsa (tall). A synonym of Picca excelsa.
A. firma (solid).* l. rigid, coriaceous, spirally arranged around the branchlets, but point laterally in two directions, 1in. to 1 1/4in. long, very variable in young and old trees. Cones cylindrical, obtuse at both ends, 3in. to 6in. long; scales imbricated, bearing protruding keeled bracts. h. 100ft. Japan, 1861. An erect three, of great beauty.
A. Fortunei (Fortune's). It is said that in its native country, its aspect is peculiar rather than handsome, and that but one living representative is believed to be in existence in this country-at Veitch's Nursery. SYN. Keteleeria Fortunei.
A. Fraseri (Fraser's). Double Balsam Spruce Fir. l. linear, emarginated, silvery beneath. cones oblong, squarrose, somewhat leafy, obcordate, mucronate, half exserted, reflexed. J. 30ft. to 40ft. North Carolina, 1811. This species closely resembles A. balsamea, from which it differs in having shorter and more erect leaves, and smaller cones.
A. grandis (splendid).* l. in double rows, on each side of the branchlets, flat, outuse, emarginated, pectinate, silvery beneath, from 3/4in. to 1in. long. Cones lateral, solitary, cylindrical obtuse at base and apex, 4in. to 5in. long, 2in. wide; bracts ovate, acuminate, irregularly dentate, very short. J. 100ft. California, 1831. A handsome tree of symmetrical habit, and rapid growth.
A. lasiocarpa (woolly-coned). Synonymous with A. concolor. A. magnifica (magnificent).* l. densely crowded, two-rowed, 1in. to nearly 2in. long, olive green, very glaucous on the upper surface when young, becoming duller with age, and marked with two slivery lines beneath. cones 6in. to 7in. long, 2 1/2in. to 3in. in diameter; scales, outer edge incurved. J. 200ft. North California, 1851. A very tall and stately species, with, at successive intervals, whorls of horizontal branches. A. Mariessii (Maries'). l. erect evenly disposed around the stem, linear-oblong, obtuse; apex notched, 1/3in. to not quite 1in. long; bracts ovate, oblong, retuse. cones erect, cylindrical, 3 1/2in. to 5 1/2in. long, 1 1/2in. to 2in. wide, narrowed at the base and apex, blackish purple; scales entire, nearly 1in. wide, not quite so long as wide. Japan, 1879. A tall, pyramidal tree.
A. Mertensiana (Mertens'). Synonymous with Tsuga Mertensiana. A miniata (vermilion). Synonymous with Picea eremita. A. Morinda (Morinda). Synonymous with Picea Morinda. A. nobilis (noble).* l. linear, mostly on one side of the branches, falcate, short, acute, silvery beneath, 1 3/4in. long. Cones cylindrical, erect, sessile, 6 1/2in. long, 1 3/4in. broad, brownish; scales triangular, without the bractea, 1 1/4in. long, and the same in breadth; bractea spathulate, imbricated backwards, 5/8in. long. J. 200ft. to 300ft. California, 1831. A majestic tree.
A. Nordmanniana Nordmann's). l. linear, rigid, flat, and minutely bifid at the apex, on young threes spreading in two rows, with a half-twist at the base, 1in. long. Cones erect, slightly ovoid, pedunculate, 4in. to 6in. ling, and 2 1/4in. wide; bracts large, coriaceous, three-lobed, fringed, greatly exceeding the scales. H. 80ft.100ft. Crimea, &c., 1848. A magnificent and stately tree, of regular growth.
A. Numidica (Numidian). Synonymous with A. baborensis. A. obovata (reversed-egg-coned). A synonym of Picea obovata. A. orientalis (eastern). Synonymous with Picea orientalis. A. Parsonii (parson's). Synonymous with A. Concolor. A. pectinata (comb-like).* l. linear, solitary, flat, obtuse, stiff, turned-up at the points, two-ranked, 1/2in. to 1in. long, shining green above, with two lines of silvery white on each side of the midrib beneath. cones axillary, cylindrical, erect, 6in. to 8in. long, 1 1/2in. to 2in. broad, when ripe, brown; scales with a long dorsal bractea, 1/6in. to 1 1/4in. broad. J. 80ft. to 100ft. A very noble silver fir, of slow growth when young only. Central Europe, 1603. There are several unimportant varieties of this splendid species.
A. Pindrow (Pindrow). In its native home, the Himalayas, this is a very beautiful tree, attaining the height of 150ft., but it has generally failed in England, in consequence of our late spring frosts destroying the young growth. It comes very near A. Webbiana, but is readily distinguished by its longer and more acutely bidented leaves, and smaller comes.
A. Pinsapo (Pinsapo).* the Spanish Silver Fir. l. linear, disposed around the branches, nearly terete, and entire at the apex, not quite 1/2in. long, bright green, with faint silvery lines on the inner side. Cones sessile, oval, or oblong, 4in. to 5 1/2in. long, about 2in. wide; bracts short, concealed by the broad rounded scales. J. 60ft. to 80ft. South Spain, 1839. A very magnificent species, very regular and symmetrical in habit. The one or two varieties offered for sale are not desirable.
B. A. polita (neat).* l. arranged spirally, short, erect, rigid, falcate, acute at the apex, tetragonal, but compressed. cones ellipsoid, 3in. to 4in long; scales light brown, coriaceous, minutely notched at the edge. Island of Nippon, 1861. This is a beautiful species, admirably adapted as a specimen tree for lawns.
A. religiosa (sacred). l. linear, acute quite entire, 1 1/2in. long. Cones roundish oval, 1 3/4in. long, and 2 1/2in. broad; scales trapezoided-cordate; bracts the length of the scapes, spathulate-oblong. J. 100ft. to 150ft. Mexico, 1839. A very handsome species, but not hardy in this country. A. Sachalinensis (Sachalin). l. in many row, 1in. or very slightly more long, 1/12in. broad twisted to one side, rigid, linear, obtuse. Cones sessile, erect, cylindrical, bluntly rounded at the apex, 3in. long, 1in. wide; scales transversely oblong, reniform; margin inflexed, denticulate; bracts 1/2in. wide, 1/4in. long, obovate, serrulate, terminating in a reflexed angular point, exceeding the scale. Japan, 1879. A tall pyramidal robust species. A. Schrenkiana (Schrenk's). Synonymous with Picea Schrenkiana. A. Sibirica (Siberian). Like the Last, this species is not recommended; its growth is very slow, even under the most favourable circumstances. Siberia. A. sibirica (Siberian). Like the last, this species is not recommended; its growth is very slow, even under the most favourable circumstances. Siberia. A. Smithiana (Smith's). A synonym of Picea Morinda.
A. Subalpina (sub-alpine).* On the high mountains of Colorado, &c., a tree 60ft. to 100ft. in height. Has not been long enough in English gardens for any decided opinion to be formed as to its merits as an ornamental tree. A. Tsuga (Tsugan). A synonym of Tsuga Sieboldi.
A. Veitchii (Veitch's).* l. crowded, lateral ones spreading in a distichous manner, those on the upper side much shorter and pointing forwards, 1/2in. to 1in. long, linear, flat, glaucous above, silvery beneath; emarginate on the sterile branches, entire on the fertile ones. Cones erect, sub-cylindrical, purplish-brown, 2in. to 1 1/2in. long, 3/4in. to nearly 1in. wide; scales horizontal reniform, densely packed, each enclosing a short, wedge-shaped bract as long as the scale. J. 120ft. to 140ft. Japan, 1680, and again in 1879. Described as a beautiful and interesting tree, as well as perfectly hardy; it should be planted on elevated sports open to the south or south-east.
A. Webbiana (Webb's).* l. two-rowed, linear, flat, obtusely emarginated, silvery beneath, 1 1/2in. to 2 1/2in. long. Cones cylindrical, 6 1/2in. to 7in. long, 2in. or more broad, deep purple; scales kidney-shaped, roundish, closely compressed, imbricated, about 1in. long, and 1 1/4in. broad; bracts oblong, apiculate. J. 70ft. to 90ft. Himalayan Mountains, 1822. A large handsome pyramidal tree, with numerous branches spreading horizontally, much divided, and densely clothed.
A Williamsoni (Williamson's). A synonym of Tsuga Pattoniana.