Abies firma

Abies firma
	Foliage
Conservation status
	; Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Gymnospermae
Division:	Pinophyta
Class:	Pinopsida
Order:	Pinales
Family:	Pinaceae
Genus:	Abies
Species:	A. firma
Binomial name
	Abies firma; Siebold & Zucc.

Abies firma, the momi fir, is a species of fir native to central and southern Japan, growing at low to moderate altitudes of 50–1200 m.^[1]^[2]

Abies firma is a medium-sized to large evergreen coniferous tree growing to 50 metres (160 ft) tall and 2 metres (6 ft 7 in) in trunk diameter, with a broad conical crown of straight branches rising at an angle of about 20° above horizontal. The bark is scaly grey-brown, with resin blisters on young trees. The shoots are grooved, buff to grey-brown, glabrous or finely pubescent. The leaves ("needles") are flattened, 2–5 centimetres (0.79–1.97 in) long and 2–4 millimetres (0.079–0.157 in) broad, spread at nearly right angles from the shoot; the apex is sharp, bifid (double-pointed) on the leaves of young trees, single-pointed on mature trees. They are bright green above, and greyish-green below with two broad stomatal bands. The cones are 7–15 centimetres (2.8–5.9 in) long by 3–5 centimetres (1.2–2.0 in) wide, green maturing yellow-brown, tapering to a 2–3 centimetres (0.79–1.18 in) broad bluntly rounded apex. The scale bracts are exserted 3–6 millimetres (0.12–0.24 in), triangular. The seeds are 7–9 millimetres (0.28–0.35 in) long with a wedge-shaped wing 1.5 centimetres (0.59 in) long, are released after the cones disintegrate at maturity in October.

Along with Abies homolepis, Abies firma is one of the two fir species that compose the majority of Japanese temperate forest zones.^[2] These two species hybridize at the point where their elevation ranges overlap and give rise to the hybrid Abies umbellata, also known as A. x umbellata.^[2]

Regrowth of Abies firma forests is threatened by overbrowsing from Sika deer.^[3]

Momi fir is sometimes, but not commonly, used as an ornamental tree, particularly in warm temperate regions with hot, humid summers such as the southeastern United States. It is also used as a grafting understock for fir cultivars in these areas.

References

^ ^a ^b Katsuki, T.; Zhang, D.; Rushforth, K.; Farjon, A. (2013). "Abies firma". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T42282A2969505. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42282A2969505.en. Retrieved 27 July 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c Aizawa, Mineaki; Iwaizumi, Masakazu G. (April 2020). "Natural hybridization and introgression of Abies firma and Abies homolepis along the altitudinal gradient and genetic insights into the origin of Abies umbellata". Plant Species Biology. 35 (2): 147–157. doi:10.1111/1442-1984.12269. ISSN 0913-557X.
^ Takatsuki, Seiki; Hirabuki, Yoshihiko (1997-05-21). "Effects of Sika Deer Browsing on the Structure and Regeneration of the Abies firma Forest on Kinkazan Island, Northern Japan". Journal of Sustainable Forestry. 6 (1–2): 203–221. doi:10.1300/J091v06n01_13. ISSN 1054-9811.

External links

Gymnosperm Database

Conifers Around the World: Abies firma - Momi Fir.

[IUCN-1] Katsuki, T.; Zhang, D.; Rushforth, K.; Farjon, A. (2013). "Abies firma". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T42282A2969505. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42282A2969505.en. Retrieved 27 July 2023.

[:0-2] Aizawa, Mineaki; Iwaizumi, Masakazu G. (April 2020). "Natural hybridization and introgression of Abies firma and Abies homolepis along the altitudinal gradient and genetic insights into the origin of Abies umbellata". Plant Species Biology. 35 (2): 147–157. doi:10.1111/1442-1984.12269. ISSN 0913-557X.

[3] Takatsuki, Seiki; Hirabuki, Yoshihiko (1997-05-21). "Effects of Sika Deer Browsing on the Structure and Regeneration of the Abies firma Forest on Kinkazan Island, Northern Japan". Journal of Sustainable Forestry. 6 (1–2): 203–221. doi:10.1300/J091v06n01_13. ISSN 1054-9811.

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