Pinaceae Abies numidica de Lannoy ex Carrière
Etymology
Abies refers to ‘to rise’; indicating large trees.
numidica refers to ‘Numidia’; the Roman name for Algeria.
Colloquial Name
Algerian fir
Description
These trees can grow up to 20 meters tall, with trunks reaching 0.5 to 0.8 meters in diameter. The trunk is usually straight and column-like, but in exposed locations, it may become twisted or split into multiple sections. The crown is broadly pyramidal, often dense but sometimes irregular in shape. Young trees have smooth, grey bark, which becomes rough, fissured, and dark grey-brown as they age.
The main branches extend from the base of the trunk, spreading outward, with the lower ones curving downward. The smaller branches grow densely and mostly spread horizontally, though those near the top of the tree tend to angle upward. The twigs are thick, firm, and can be greyish-brown, yellowish, or even shiny orange-brown. They have prominent ridges between the leaves and are completely smooth. The spots where leaves were previously attached are circular.
The buds that produce new growth are small, oval, or broadly cone-shaped, measuring about 5 mm long and 4 mm wide. They are not sticky with resin, or only slightly so at the base. The bud scales are brown, oval-shaped, and may be blunt or slightly pointed. They remain on the tree for several years. The leaves are arranged in a spiral around the twigs, spreading outward in all directions, especially on branches at the edges of the crown. On lower, shaded branches, they may be more flattened and comb-like. On cone-bearing branches, they also spread out radially, with the upper leaves curving slightly backward. They range from 1.5 to 2 cm long and 2 to 3 mm wide, with a twisted or curved base. They are long and narrow, flattened, and have a noticeable ridge running along the underside. Their color is dark green, with a slightly bluish tint near the tip, and the underside has two pale greenish-white bands. The leaf tips are usually blunt or slightly notched, but on cone-bearing branches, they can sometimes be sharper. Stomata, the tiny openings for gas exchange, are concentrated near the tip of the leaf or in a central groove on the upper surface, while on the underside, they are arranged in two bands separated by a raised midrib.
The pollen cones grow along the sides of the branches, forming dense clusters. They are yellowish and measure 1 to 2.5 cm in length. The seed cones also grow along the branches and stand upright on short, scaly stalks. They are cylindrical, with a slightly pointed tip that may have small bumps. When young, they are light green with a purple tint, maturing to greenish with a purplish hue before finally turning light purplish-brown when fully ripe. They measure between 12 and 18 cm in length and 4 to 6 cm in width. After the seeds are released, the central cone core remains, forming a narrow, brown, cone-shaped structure.
The seed scales are wedge-shaped and fan-like, measuring about 2 to 3 cm long and 2.5 to 3.5 cm wide at the middle of the cone. Their surface is mostly smooth but may have faint ridges and fine hairs on the exposed parts. The upper edge is usually smooth but slightly wavy, and the base is attached by a small stalk. The bracts, which are small leaf-like structures behind the seed scales, are spoon-shaped with tiny pointed extensions that are typically hidden inside the cone, though they sometimes stick out at the very bottom. They are about 0.8 to 1 cm long.
The seeds are wedge-shaped, measuring about 6 to 8 mm long and light brown in color. Their seed wings, which help with wind dispersal, are elongated and wedge-shaped, measuring 12 to 15 mm long. They are light brown with a slight purple tint.
Distribution
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Habitat
The natural habitats for Abies numidica are temperate forests. It is naturally found at an elevation of at least 2000 up to 2000 metres. Other conifers associated with Abies numidica are:
USDA Hardiness zone – 6
Abies numidica 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 numidica is decreasing. There are ongoing threats for Abies numidica and they are listed as follows:
IUCN Category – CR
According to the IUCN Red List, Abies numidica 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 numidica is Sect. Piceaster. The coordinate taxa for Abies numidica are therefore:
Abies numidica is further placed under Abietoideae. Abies numidica 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
‘Aurea’, ‘Drath’, ‘Glauca’, ‘Lawrenceville’, ‘Nana’, ‘Pendula’, ‘Schwarzwald’
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