Abies kawakamii

Pinaceae Abies kawakamii (Hayata) T. Itô

Etymology
Abies refers to ‘to rise’; indicating large trees.
kawakamii refers to the Japanese plant collector T. Kawakamii.

Colloquial Name
Taiwan fir

Description
These trees grow between 16 and 20 meters tall, with a trunk diameter of up to 1 meter. The trunk is usually straight and cylindrical, though some older trees may develop a slight bend. The crown is broad and pyramidal, but in trees growing on mountain tops, it can appear irregular and more open. The bark on young trees is smooth and light gray or yellowish-gray, but it soon starts to flake. As the tree matures, the bark becomes rough, scaly, and turns a grayish-brown color.

The main branches are thick and long, either spreading horizontally or curving slightly. Smaller branches spread outward or angle upward. The twigs are sturdy and pale yellowish-brown, with noticeable ridges and grooves. Fine, light brown hairs are found in these grooves, while on cone-bearing shoots, the hairs are a reddish-brown color. The scars left behind by fallen leaves are circular.

The buds that produce new growth are small, about 4 to 5 millimeters long, and shaped like narrow cones. They are covered in sticky resin. Their protective scales are triangular, purple-brown, and have a noticeable ridge down the center. These scales remain on the tree for several years. The needles grow in a spiral pattern around the branches. They spread outward in a comb-like arrangement below the shoot, while those above the shoot are shorter and curve upward, covering the branch completely. On cone-bearing branches, the needles always point upward. They range from 1 to 2.5 centimeters long and 1.5 to 2 millimeters wide. The base is slightly twisted or curved, and the overall shape is long, narrow, and slightly curved. The upper surface is glossy green, while the underside is pale whitish-green. The tips can be blunt or slightly notched, but on cone-bearing branches, they are more sharply pointed. Stomata, which control gas exchange, are arranged in two narrow bands separated by a central ridge on the lower surface.

Pollen cones grow in clusters along the branches. They are small, about 1 centimeter long, and yellowish in color. The seed cones grow upright on short stalks. They are oblong and cylindrical, with a rounded or slightly depressed tip. When young, they are a deep purple color, maturing into a dark purple-brown as they ripen. They range from 5 to 7 centimeters long and 2.5 to 4 centimeters wide. Once the seeds are released, the central cone axis remains on the tree, forming a narrow, dark purplish-brown structure.

The cone scales, which protect the seeds, are fan-shaped and measure about 1.5 to 1.7 centimeters in length and 2 to 2.3 centimeters in width at the middle of the cone. Their surface is smooth but has fine hairs. The upper edges have an irregular, slightly jagged shape, and the base is attached by a small stalk. The bracts, which are tiny structures between the cone scales, are rectangular with a very small tip and measure 1 to 1.3 centimeters long. They remain hidden within the cone.

The seeds are elongated and wedge-shaped, measuring 6 to 8 millimeters long and blackish-brown in color. Each seed has a broad, wing-like extension that helps it disperse in the wind. The wings are also wedge-shaped, 6 to 10 millimeters long, and light brown with a slightly blackish tint.

Distribution

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TDWG Codes
3, 38, TAI

Habitat
The natural habitats for Abies kawakamii are temperate forests. It is naturally found at an elevation of at least 3800 up to 3800 metres. Other conifers associated with Abies kawakamii are:

USDA Hardiness zone – 6
Abies kawakamii 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 kawakamii is stable. There are ongoing threats for Abies kawakamii and they are listed as follows:

• 2 Overexploitation & Resource Use
  • 2.1 Logging & Wood Harvesting
• 5 Natural System Modifications
  • 5.1 Fire & Fire Suppression

IUCN Category – NT
According to the IUCN Red List, Abies kawakamii 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 kawakamii is Subsect. Homolepides. The coordinate taxa for Abies kawakamii are therefore:

Abies kawakamii is further placed under Abietoideae. Abies kawakamii is also placed under Pinaceae.

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