Abies chensiensis ssp. chensiensis

Pinaceae Abies chensiensis ssp. chensiensis Tiegh.

Etymology
Abies refers to ‘to rise’; indicating large trees.
chensiensis refers to the Shaanxi (Shensi) province of China.

Colloquial Name
Shaanxi fir

Description
These towering trees can reach heights of 50 to 70 meters, with trunks growing up to 2.5 meters in diameter. The trunk is straight and cylindrical, supporting a pyramidal crown when young that flattens out as the tree matures. The bark starts off smooth and dark gray but develops deep fissures over time.

The main branches are short and sturdy, while the smaller branches are thick and spread outward. The twigs are firm and robust, with a smooth, slightly glossy surface that is yellowish or gray. They have ridges between the areas where leaves were once attached and may have a light fuzz when young, though they usually become smooth over time. The scars left by fallen leaves are rounded with a pale center.

The buds are cone-shaped or oval, about 10 mm long and 6 mm wide, though they can be larger on the main shoots. They produce a small amount of resin. The bud scales are triangular or broadly oval, brown or reddish in color, and remain on the tree for several years before falling off. The needles grow in a spiral pattern along the branches. On the lower branches, they spread outward at right angles, while the upper ones are shorter and point forward. On cone-bearing branches, they grow in an upright or slightly angled position. They range from 1.3 to 5 cm long and 2.5 to 3 mm wide, often twisting slightly at the base. The needles are long and narrow, with a flat, ribbon-like shape. Their upper surface is smooth and glossy green, while the underside is pale greenish-white. The tips can be slightly notched, rounded, or, in some cases, sharply pointed. Small openings called stomata are arranged in two broad bands separated by a midrib on the lower surface. In needles from cone-bearing shoots, resin canals run through the center of the leaf.

The pollen cones grow in clusters along the branches, each about 1 cm long. The seed cones also grow along the sides of branches, standing upright on short stalks. They are oblong or cylindrical, with a flattened tip, measuring between 8 and 11 cm long and 4 to 5 cm wide. When young, they are green, gradually turning a cinnamon-brown color as they mature. Once the seeds are released, the central core of the cone remains on the tree, forming a dark brown, cone-shaped structure.

The cone scales are broad and wedge-shaped or cup-like, measuring 2.5 to 3 cm in length and 3 to 3.5 cm in width. Their surface is mostly smooth, with a fine, velvety texture. The upper edge is rounded with faint serrations, while the base tapers into a short stalk. The bracts inside the cone are short, have two layers, and feature a small, pointed tip that remains hidden within the cone. They measure between 1 and 1.5 cm in length.

The seeds are small, brown, and slightly oval, about 10 mm long and 5 mm wide. Each seed has a thin, wing-like extension that is 20 mm long and 10 mm wide, with a pale brown color that helps it disperse in the wind.

Subordinate Taxa
There exist 3 subordinate taxa for Abies chensiensis:

Distribution

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TDWG Codes
3, 36, CHC, CHC-HU, CHC-SC, CHN, CHN-GS, CHN-SA, CHS, CHS-HE

Habitat
The natural habitats for Abies chensiensis ssp. chensiensis are temperate forests. It is naturally found at an elevation of at least 3000 up to 3000 metres. Other conifers associated with Abies chensiensis ssp. chensiensis are:

USDA Hardiness zone – 6
Abies chensiensis ssp. chensiensis is hardy to USDA Zone 6 (Bannister & Neuner, 2001), meaning its frost tolerance lies somewhere in the range of -23.3C (-10F) to -17.8C (0F).

Species Continuity
The population trend for Abies chensiensis ssp. chensiensis is unknown. There are ongoing threats for Abies chensiensis ssp. chensiensis and they are listed as follows:

• 2 Overexploitation & Resource Use
  • 2.1 Logging & Wood Harvesting

IUCN Category – LC
According to the IUCN Red List, Abies chensiensis ssp. chensiensis 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 chensiensis is Subsect. Holophyllae. The coordinate taxa for Abies chensiensis are therefore:

Abies chensiensis ssp. chensiensis is further placed under Abietoideae. Abies chensiensis ssp. chensiensis is also placed under Pinaceae.

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