Pinaceae Abies cephalonica Loudon
Etymology
Abies refers to ‘to rise’; indicating large trees.
cephalonica refers to the island of Cephalonia in Greece.
Colloquial Name
Greek fir, Grecian fir
Description
These trees grow between 30 and 35 meters tall, with trunks that can reach up to 2 meters in diameter. The trunk is straight and cylindrical, supporting a pyramidal crown when young, which flattens out as the tree ages. The bark starts off smooth and grayish, sometimes with pink or brown tones, but in older trees, it becomes rough and fissured near the base.
The main branches are long and spread out horizontally, with the lower ones hanging downward. The smaller branches also spread outward or droop. The twigs are thick, though those in shaded areas tend to be more slender. They are smooth and glossy, ranging in color from pale brown to reddish-brown, with some rarely appearing yellowish. They have deep grooves along their length and circular scars where leaves have fallen.
The buds are oval or cone-shaped, measuring about 6 mm long and 4 to 5 mm wide, and they produce a yellowish resin. The bud scales are reddish-brown, ovate with pointed tips, and remain on the tree for several years before falling off. The needles are arranged in a spiral around the twigs, spreading outward in a slightly comb-like pattern on the lower branches, while those on cone-bearing branches curve slightly upward. They range from 1.5 to 3.5 cm long and 2 to 2.5 mm wide. The bases are often twisted or curved, and the needles are long, narrow, and slightly flattened. Their upper surface is glossy dark green, while the lower side has two pale greenish-white bands separated by a central ridge. The tips are usually pointed, though some may be more rounded. Small openings called stomata are mostly found on the lower surface, but a few may appear near the tips on the upper side.
The pollen cones grow in clusters along the lower sides of branches. They are 1.2 to 1.8 cm long, yellow in color, with small reddish structures that produce pollen. The seed cones also grow along the sides of branches, standing upright on short stalks. They are cylindrical in shape, measuring between 10 and 16 cm long and 3.5 to 5 cm wide, with a rounded or slightly bumpy tip. When young, they are greenish-brown, later turning light brown as they mature. After the seeds are released, the central core of the cone remains on the tree, forming a narrow, conical, brown structure.
The cone scales are wedge-shaped near the top and more cup-like in the middle, measuring 2.5 to 3.5 cm in length and 2 to 3 cm in width. Their surface is mostly smooth, with some yellowish-brown fuzz on the outer parts. The upper edge is slightly wavy or unbroken, with a convex shape, while the base is attached to a short stalk. The bracts inside the cone are long and narrow, with a pointed tip extending beyond the cone surface. They measure 3 to 4 cm in length and curve backward as the cone matures.
The seeds are small, brown, and wedge-shaped, measuring about 8 mm long and 5 mm wide. Each seed has a thin, wing-like extension that is 15 to 20 mm long and 8 to 10 mm wide, with a smooth, glossy light brown surface that helps it disperse in the wind.
Distribution
This map shows botanical records (points) for this taxon. By opening the map’s sidebar (collapsed by default) you can toggle visibility or change the basemap. By clicking on records, you reveal more information.
Habitat
The natural habitats for Abies cephalonica are temperate forests. It is naturally found at an elevation of at least 2100 up to 2100 metres. Other conifers associated with Abies cephalonica are:
USDA Hardiness zone – 5
Abies cephalonica is hardy to USDA Zone 5 (Bannister & Neuner, 2001), meaning its frost tolerance lies somewhere in the range of -28.9C (-20F) to -23.3C (-10F).
Species Continuity
The population trend for Abies cephalonica is stable. There are ongoing threats for Abies cephalonica and they are listed as follows:
IUCN Category – LC
According to the IUCN Red List, Abies cephalonica has been assigned the status of LC(Least Concern). This means that according to the Red List criteria, this species is not qualified as threatened.
Superordinate Taxa
The nearest superordinate taxon for Abies cephalonica is Sect. Abies. The coordinate taxa for Abies cephalonica are therefore:
Abies cephalonica is further placed under Abietoideae. Abies cephalonica is also placed under Pinaceae.
This map shows botanical records (points) for this taxon. By opening the map’s sidebar (collapsed by default) you can toggle visibility or change the basemap. By clicking on records, you reveal more information.
Cultivars
‘Acicularis’, ‘Aurea’, ‘Barabits Gold’, ‘Bentham’s Blue’ , ‘Greg’s Broom’ , ‘Meyer’s Dwarf’ , ‘Minityp’, ‘Nana’, ‘Pendula’, ‘Robusta’, ‘Rubiginosa’, ‘Stepkowski’s Weeper’
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.