Fir of Spain, Abies pinsapo

Conifer with persistent foliage, family Pinaceae (Cedar, Norway Spruce,
Larch, Pine, Fir, Hemlock), genus Abies.

Abies alba = reddish-brown-green.
Abies cephalonica = cyan.
Abies cilicica = dark green.
Abies marocana = claret.
Abies nebrodensis = yellow.
Abies nordmanniana = purple.
Abies numidica = red.
Abies pinsapo = blue.

Origin : South of Spain (Sierra of Ronda, between 1000 and 1800 m of altitude). The Fir of Spain was known to the Grenade kingdom, then it was completely forgotten until 1838, when it was rediscovered on Mounts Thabor and Babor, in Kabylie.
Habitat: tree of light ('heliophilous"), the Fir of Spain tolerates the dry and hot sites. It makes the best of various soil types.
Height: 25-30 m tall.
Shape: conical (of a pyramid).
Grey-dark bark, longitudinally cracked on more ancient trees.

Foliage persistent on the tree during 11-13 years : needles disposed radially ("in bottlebrush") around stems, thick, hard, of 8-1,5 cm long, twisted from the base to the apex. Green-dark top. Two white stomatal bands on underside.
Flowers: in April and May, light brown, maturing in September and October, the seed, triangular, 2.5 cm wide.
Cylindrical cones, of 10-1 cm long, light brown, maturing in September and October; the seed, triangular, is 2,5 cm broad.

Use : ornamental tree. Overexploitation of the tree for its timber Spain failed to make it disappear from its native range.

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Fir of Spain, Abies pinsapo

Conifer with persistent foliage, family Pinaceae (Cedar, Norway Spruce, Larch, Pine, Fir, Hemlock), genus Abies.

Rubric Pictures

Conifer with persistent foliage, family Pinaceae (Cedar, Norway Spruce,
Larch, Pine, Fir, Hemlock), genus Abies.