Gymnosperms (Seed Producing Plants: Conifers, Cycads, Ginkgo) • Earth.com

Sakhalin fir

(Abies sachalinensis gracilis)

galery
en

Description

Abies sachalinensis, the Sakhalin fir, is a species of conifer in the family Pinaceae. It is found in Sakhalin island and southern Kurils (Russia), and also in northern Hokkaido (Japan). The first discovery by a European was by Carl Friedrich Schmidt (1832-1908), the Baltic German botanist, on the Russian island of Sakhalin in 1866, but he did not introduce it to Europe. The plant was re-discovered by the English plant-collector, Charles Maries in 1877 near Aomori on the main Japanese island of Honshū, who initially thought it to be a variety of Abies veitchii. Abies nephrolepis(khingan fir) is known to be the closest relative. Which is on the mainland just west of the range of Sakhalin fir. Grows to 30m tall with Girths up to 100 cm. The crown pyramidal, but tend to flatten out as they grow to old age. Branches are long and slender during the life time. As you move down to more northern parts of its habitat they tend to grow shorter. hardiness zone of 5 (cold limit is between -23.3 Degree C and -28.8 Degree C) Been seen at sea level up to 1,650m in different areas, but on Sakhalin Island it sits at elevations of 800-1,100m in pure stands or in mixed forests with Picea jezoensis(Yezo spruce) and Picea glehnii around the treeline. It is also found in lower elevations with broadleaf trees including Betula ermanii (Erman's birch), Castanea crenulata, Kalopanax septemlobus(castor aralia), and Magnolia hypoleuca. Cool summers, mild winters, and precipitation around 1,500mm. Half or more falls during the winter. Soils tend to be well drained and moist. Does not do well in water logged soil. very shade tolerant when young, growth is slower in dense shade. It likes slightly acidic soils at a PH of around 5.

Taxonomic tree:

Domain:
Kingdom: Plantae
Phylum:
Class: Pinopsida
Order:Pinales
Family:Pinaceae
Genus:Abies
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