Abies recurvata var. ernestii


Botanical Information

FamilyPinaceae
GenusAbies
Speciesrecurvata
Varietyernestii
SynonymsAbies ernestii
CategoryWoody
TypeTree (evergreen)
OriginNative to China including south west Gansu, west Sichuan, south east Tibet and possibly north west Yunnan.
Ethnobotanical Uses
Disclaimer
Cut for lumber to the point that China has since restricted its harvest in Sichuan.
Pronunciation

Details

USDA Hardiness Zone6
USDA Hardiness Ref.
Canadian Hardiness Zone5 - 6a
Canada Hardiness Ref.
RHS Hardiness ZoneH7 - H6
RHS Hardiness Ref.
Temperature (°C)-23 to -18
Temperature (°F)-10 - 0
Height35 m
GrowthFast

Description and Growing Information

General DescriptionA coniferous fir with a conical crown that spreads and becomes flat with age.
HabitatOccurring at elevations of 2,300 - 3,200 m in small stands or mixed forest of broad-leaved trees often at lower elevations than other Abies species.
Bark/Stem DescriptionBark is rough and flaking, tending to be brown or grey-brown, although occasionally tinged orange.
Leaf DescriptionLeaves are glossy green with two green-white stomatal bands beneath. The ernestii variety has notable longer leaves, up to 3.5 cm in length, that are often bloomed grey above. The apex on young, vigorous ernestii is often cleft deeply, forming two points.
Fruit DescriptionCones are short-stalked, ovoid or oblong, and are originally purple in colour, becoming brown tinged with grey.

Photographs