“Firs Things Firs”
1) Abies bornmuelleriana Turkish Fir
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- This species is allied to the Caucasian Fir (A. Nordmanniana), but with some characteristics of the Greek Fir (A. cephalonica), notably the resinous buds and glabrous shoots.
- It has a small range in northwestern Asia Minor, where it forms forests on the Bithynian Olympus.
- With regards to our collections at the Arboretum, we have a few specimens in the Northwest Pinetum, as well as the one shown here residing below the Pacific Connections New Zealand Garden.
2) Abies numidica Algerian Fir
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- A. numidica is a native of Mt. Babor in Algeria, where it grows in association with Cedrus atlantica. It is said to grow to 70 feet or more in the wild.
- This specimen is located again below the New Zealand Garden, just west of the Upper Trail.
3) Abies pinsapo var. marocana Moroccan Fir
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- A native of Morocco, A. pinsapo var. marocana occupies a small area in the mountains south of Tetuan.
- Last autumn, newly-seen native brown squirrels chewed off nearly every mature cone on this specimen and proceeded to stow the gooey pieces in the nearby woods.
- This tree can be found once again below the New Zealand Garden, just off the Gazebo Trail.
4) Abies vejari
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- A rare species in nature, A. vejari is native to northeastern Mexico, growing at an elevation of 9,000 to 10,000 ft. Its main stands are in the state of Tamaulipas, where it grows to over 100 feet high.
- Our only specimen is located in grid 8-2E, not very far from the Pacific Connections New Zealand Garden.
All four of these specimens described can be viewed from the same vicinity, so go check them out!