Abies alba
Abies alba | |
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In Silesian Beskids, Poland | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Gymnospermae |
Division: | Pinophyta |
Class: | Pinopsida |
Order: | Pinales |
Family: | Pinaceae |
Genus: | Abies |
Species: | A. alba
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Binomial name | |
Abies alba | |
Distribution map:
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Synonyms[2] | |
List
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Abies alba, the European silver fir or silver fir,[3] is a fir native to the mountains of Europe, from the Pyrenees north to Normandy, east to the Alps and the Carpathians, Slovakia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia, and south to Italy, Bulgaria, Kosovo, Albania and northern Greece; it is also commonly grown on Christmas tree plantations in the North East region of North America spanning New England in the US to the Maritime provinces of Canada.[1]
Description
Abies alba is a large evergreen coniferous tree growing to 40–50 m (130–160 ft) tall and with a trunk diameter up to 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in). The largest measured tree was 60 m (200 ft) tall and had a trunk diameter of 3.8 m (12 ft). It occurs at altitudes of 300–1,700 m (980–5,580 ft) (mainly over 500 m (1,600 ft)), on mountains with rainfall over 1,000 millimetres (39 in) per year.[3]
The
When cultivated on Christmas Tree plantations, the tree naturally forms a symmetrical triangle shape. The trees are full and dense with smell of resin, and are known to be one of the longest lasting after being cut. In the forest the evergreen tends to form stands with other firs and beeches.
Ecology
Silver fir is an important component species in the
In Italy, the silver fir is an important component of the mixed broadleaved-coniferous forest of the Apennine Mountains, especially in northern Apennine. The fir prefer a cold and humid climate, in northern exposition, with a high rainfall (over 1500 mm per year). In the oriental Alps of Italy, silver firs grow in mixed forests with Norway spruce, beech, and other trees.
Its cone scales are eaten by the
Chemistry and pharmacology
The bark and wood of silver fir are rich in antioxidative
Uses
In Roman times the wood was used to make wooden casks to store and transport wine and other substances.[10]
A resinous essential oil can be extracted. This pine-scented oil is used in perfumes, bath products, and aerosol inhalants.[3] Its branches (including the leaves, bark and wood) were used for production of spruce beer.[11]
Silver fir is the species first used as a
The
The honeydew which is produced by aphids sitting on the silver fir is collected by honey bees. The resulting honey is marketed as "fir honey".[13]
Etymology
Abies is derived from Latin, meaning 'rising one'. The name was used to refer to tall trees or ships.[14]
Alba means 'bright' or 'dead white'.[14]
References
- ^ . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
- ^ a b "Abies alba". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 12 October 2016 – via The Plant List. Note that this website has been superseded by World Flora Online
- ^ ISBN 978-0-671-73489-3.
- ^ S2CID 90833072.
- ^ Vasincu A, Creţu E, Geangalău I, Amalinei RL, Miron A. Polyphenolic content and antioxidant activity of an extractive fraction from Abies alba bark. Rev Med Chir Soc Med Nat Iasi. 2013 Apr-Jun;117(2):545-50.
- .
- PMID 26220633.
- PMID 27756448.
- ^ Debeljak, J.; Ferk, P.; Čokolič, M.; Zavratnik, A.; Tavč Benković, E.; Kreft, S.; Štrukelj, B.: Randomised, double blind, cross-over, placebo and active controlled human pharmacodynamic study on the influence of silver fir wood extract (Belinal) on post-prandial glycemic response. Die Pharmazie - An International Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Volume 71, Number 10, October 2016, pp. 566-569(4)
- ISBN 0941936163
- ^ The London Medical Gazette. Longman. 1837.
- ^ Wolf, Heino. "Silver fir - Abies alba" (PDF). EUFORGEN Technical Guidelines for Genetic Conservation and Use. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 January 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2016.
- ^ "Fir Honey".
- ^ ISBN 9780521685535(paperback). pp 32, 41
- Kunkar, Alp; Kunkar, Ennio (2000). Le piante officinali della Calabria (in Italian). Laruffa Editore. ISBN 978-88-7221-140-3.
External links
- conifers.org: Abies alba
- botany.cz: Abies alba Mill
- photomazza.com: Abies alba
- conifersaroundtheworld.com: Abies alba - European White Fir.
- pfaf.org: Abies alba Mill.
- monumentaltrees.com: The thickest, tallest, and oldest European silver fir trees (Abies alba)
- baumkunde.de: Weiß-Tanne (Abies alba) | In German
- Abies alba. Distribution map, genetic conservation units and related resources. European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN)