Pinaceae Abies cilicica ssp. isaurica Coode & Cullen
Etymology
Abies refers to ‘to rise’; indicating large trees.
cilicica refers to ‘Cilicia’; a coastal region in Turkey.
isaurica refers to ‘Isauria’; being from the Isaurian Taurus Mountains.
Colloquial Name
Isaurian fir
Description
These trees can grow up to 30 meters tall, with trunks reaching a diameter of 0.75 to 1 meter. The trunk is straight, cylindrical, and unbranched at the base, supporting a narrow, cone-shaped crown. The bark starts off smooth and gray in young trees but becomes scaly and fissured as the tree matures.
The main branches spread out horizontally, with the upper ones angling slightly upward. Smaller branches also extend outward. The young twigs are sturdy and thick, with a yellowish or greenish-brown color that later turns gray. They are smooth from the start, lacking any fuzz. The scars left by fallen leaves are circular and dark.
The buds are small, oval, and pointed, measuring about 3 to 4 mm long and 2 to 3 mm wide. They produce a slight amount of resin. Their scales are broadly oval, light brown or orange-brown, and remain on the tree for several years before shedding. The needles grow in a spiral pattern along the branches, often pointing forward, especially on non-flowering shoots. On cone-bearing branches, they are arranged more radially and angle slightly upward. They range from 2.5 to 4 cm long and 1.5 to 1.8 mm wide, twisting at the base and narrowing suddenly. Their shape is long and flat, with a bright green or slightly bluish-green upper surface and a pale greenish-white underside with a noticeable green midrib. The tips are rounded or slightly notched. Small openings called stomata form two broad bands separated by a midrib on the lower surface.
The pollen cones grow along the sides of the branches, attached by short stalks. They are small, about 1 to 1.5 cm long, and have a yellowish color with red-tinted scales that produce pollen. The seed cones grow in an upright position, often appearing in pairs. They have either very short stalks or none at all. Their shape is cylindrical, with a rounded, slightly indented, or small bump-like tip. They measure between 16 and 20 cm long, sometimes reaching 30 cm, and are 4 to 6 cm wide. When young, they are greenish but turn reddish-brown as they mature, often producing resin, before aging to a darker brown. The central cone structure remains on the tree after the seeds are released, forming a narrow, cone-shaped, dark brown remnant.
The cone scales are broad and fan-shaped, measuring 2.5 to 3 cm long and 3 to 4 cm wide at the middle of the cone. Their surface is smooth but has a fine fuzz on the exposed parts. The upper edge is thin and unbroken, while the base narrows into a short stalk. The bracts inside the cone are long and narrow, measuring 1.5 to 2.5 cm, and usually stay hidden, though they sometimes extend slightly beyond the cone scales.
The seeds are light brown, triangular with a rounded top, and about 10 to 12 mm long and 5 mm wide. Each seed has a broad, wedge-shaped wing that is 14 to 17 mm long, helping it disperse in the wind.
Subordinate Taxa
There exist 2 subordinate taxa for Abies cilicica:
Distribution
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Habitat
The natural habitats for Abies cilicica ssp. isaurica are temperate forests. It is naturally found at an elevation of at least 2000 up to 2000 metres. Other conifers associated with Abies cilicica ssp. isaurica are:
USDA Hardiness zone – 5
Abies cilicica ssp. isaurica 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 cilicica ssp. isaurica is decreasing. There are ongoing threats for Abies cilicica ssp. isaurica and they are listed as follows:
- 1 Habitat Loss & Degradation
- 2 Overexploitation & Resource Use
- 3 Climate Change & Natural Disasters
- 5 Natural System Modifications
IUCN Category – NT
According to the IUCN Red List, Abies cilicica ssp. isaurica has been assigned the status of NT(Near Threatened). This means that according to the Red List criteria, this species is not threatened, but is close to having this status.
Superordinate Taxa
The nearest superordinate taxon for Abies cilicica is Sect. Abies. The coordinate taxa for Abies cilicica are therefore:
Abies cilicica ssp. isaurica is further placed under Abietoideae. Abies cilicica ssp. isaurica 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.
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