Nordmann Fir
Nordmann Fir (
Abies nordmanniana) is a
fir native to the
mountains south and east of the
Black Sea, in
Turkey,
Armenia,
Georgia and the
Russian Caucasus. It is a large
evergreen coniferous tree growing to 60 m tall and with a trunk diameter of up to 2 m. It occurs at altitudes of 900-2,200 m on mountains with a rainfall of over 1,000 mm.
The
leaves are needle-like, flattened, 1.8-3.5 cm long and 2 mm wide by 0.5 mm thick, glossy dark green above, and with two blue-white bands of
stomata below. The tip of the leaf is usually blunt, often slightly notched at the tip, but can be pointed, particularly on strong-growing shoots on young trees. The
cones are 10-20 cm long and 4-5 cm broad, with about 150-200 scales, each scale with an exserted bract and two winged
seeds; they disintegrate when mature to release the seeds.
There are two subspecies (treated as distinct species by some botanists), intergrading where they meet in northern
Turkey at about 36°E longitude:\n*
Caucasian Fir Abies nordmanniana subsp.
nordmanniana. Native to the
Caucasus mountains and northeastern Turkey west to about 36°E. Shoots often pubescent (hairy).\n*
Turkish Fir Abies nordmanniana subsp.
equi-trojani (syn.
A. bornmuelleriana,
A. equi-trojani). Native to northwestern Turkey from
Mount Ida eastwards to about 36°E. Shoots usually glabrous (hairless).
Uses
\n
\nNordmann Fir is one of the most important species grown for Christmas trees, being favoured for its scented foliage, with needles that are not sharp, and do not drop readily when the tree dries out.
It is also a popular ornamental tree in parks and large
gardens.
The
wood is soft and white, and is used for general construction,
paper, etc.
