Pinaceae Abies nebrodensis (Lojac.) Mattei
Etymology
Abies refers to ‘to rise’; indicating large trees.
nebrodensis refers to Mount Nebrodi on Sicily.
Colloquial Name
Sicilian fir
Description
These trees typically grow between 10 and 15 meters tall in Sicily today, but they may have the potential to grow taller. Their trunks are straight, column-like, and can reach a diameter of 40 to 60 centimeters. The crown is broadly conical, though the only known old tree in the wild had its top broken off. The bark is smooth and light grey when young but becomes rough and scaly as the tree ages, developing fissures near the base.
The main branches spread out horizontally, and the smaller secondary branches do the same. The smaller branchlets are sturdy and firm, starting out yellowish-green and glossy before turning grey over time. They have noticeable ridges between the leaves and are either hairless or have a fine fuzz in their first year. The leaf scars are circular, with a lighter center.
The vegetative buds are cone-shaped, about 8–9 mm long and 4–6 mm wide, and slightly sticky with resin. The bud scales are triangular with fringed edges, light brown in color, and remain on the tree for several years. The leaves grow in a spiral pattern along the branches, often spreading out in two distinct rows. The upper leaves may cover the shoot and point forward, while the lower ones form a comb-like arrangement on shaded branches. On cone-bearing branches, they stand more upright. They range from 1.5 to 2 cm long and 2 to 3.5 mm wide, with a twisted or curved base. Their shape is long and narrow, slightly flattened, and has a shallow groove running along the top. The upper surface is bright and glossy green, while the lower side has two pale greenish-white bands. The tips vary, being sharp and pointed on sun-exposed branches, while on shaded branches, they are more rounded but not notched. Stomata, the tiny openings used for gas exchange, are either absent or appear only near the tip on the upper surface, but they form two distinct bands below, separated by a midrib.
The pollen cones grow along the sides of the branches, clustered together, and measure 1.5 to 2 cm long. They are greenish-yellow with purple pollen-producing structures. The seed cones are also positioned along the branches, standing upright on short stalks. They are cylindrical with a slightly conical tip, measuring between 8 and 10 cm long and 3 to 4 cm wide. When young, they are yellowish-green, later ripening to a greenish-brown color, while the inside turns light reddish-brown. Once the seeds are released, the central axis of the cone remains attached to the branch as a narrow, brown spire.
The seed scales are wedge-shaped with a shallow, cup-like base, measuring 2 to 2.5 cm in length and 2.8 to 3.3 cm in width at the middle of the cone. Their surface is mostly smooth but may have slight wrinkles, and the exposed parts have a fine fuzz. The upper edge is either smooth or slightly wavy, while the base is stalk-like. The bracts, which sit behind the seed scales, are long and narrow with a spoon-like shape, measuring 2.5 to 3 cm. They extend beyond the cone scales and curve backward.
The seeds are conical and oblong, measuring 6 to 8 mm long, and are reddish-brown. Their wings are wedge-shaped, slightly angled, and range from 10 to 15 mm long. They are light brown in color.
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 nebrodensis are mediterranean-type shrublands. It is naturally found at an elevation of at least 2000 up to 2000 metres. There are no conifers associated with Abies nebrodensis that are known of.
USDA Hardiness zone – 7
Abies nebrodensis is hardy to USDA Zone 7 (Bannister & Neuner, 2001), meaning its frost tolerance lies somewhere in the range of -17.8C (0F) to -12.2C (10F).
Species Continuity
The population trend for Abies nebrodensis is increasing. Currently, there exist about 32 mature specimen. There are ongoing threats for Abies nebrodensis and they are listed as follows:
IUCN Category – CR
According to the IUCN Red List, Abies nebrodensis has been assigned the status of CR(Critically Endangered). This means that according to the Red List criteria, this species qualifies as Critically endangered and is on the brink of being extinct in the wild.
Superordinate Taxa
The nearest superordinate taxon for Abies nebrodensis is Sect. Abies. The coordinate taxa for Abies nebrodensis are therefore:
Abies nebrodensis is further placed under Abietoideae. Abies nebrodensis 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
‘Sicilian Gold’
Reviews
There are no reviews yet.