PINACEAE

PINE FAMILY

James R. Griffin

Tree or shrub, monoecious, evergreen
Stem: young crown conic; twig not grooved, resinous, generally persistent
Leaves simple, generally alternate, sometimes in bundles or appearing ± 2-ranked, linear or awl-like; bases decurrent, sometimes woody, persistent several years
Pollen cone generally < 6 cm, not woody, deciduous
Seed cone generally woody; bracts, scales generally persistent; scale not peltate, fused to or free from subtending bract
Seeds 2, on upper side of scale base
Genera in family: 10 genera, 193 species: mostly n hemisphere; many of great commercial value, supplying > half of world's timber
Reference: [Price 1989 J Arnold Arbor 70:247–305]

ABIES

FIR

Stem: young bark smooth, with resin blisters, mature bark generally thick, deeply furrowed; young branches appearing whorled; twig glabrous or hairy; leaf scars smooth, round, flush with surface; bud generally ± spheric, generally < 1 cm, ± resinous
Leaves 2–9 cm, sessile, twisted at base to become 2-ranked, often curved upward on upper twigs, generally ± flat; upper surface with 2 longitudinal, whitish bands, midrib sometimes depressed; lower surface with or without whitish bands, midrib sometimes ridge-like
Seed cone erect, < 23 cm, maturing 1st season; stalk generally 0; bracts, scales deciduous; bract included or exserted, free from scale; axis persistent on stem
Seed with obvious resin deposits on surface; wing < 2.5 cm
Chromosomes: 2n=24 for all reports
Species in genus: 39 species: n hemisphere
Etymology: (Latin: silver fir)
Reference: [Vasek 1985 Madroño 32:65–77]

Native

A. bracteata (D. Don) Nutt.

BRISTLECONE FIR

Stem: trunk < 55 m, < 1.3 m wide; mature crown narrow, steeple-like; bark thin, not fire-resistant; branches ± drooping, sometimes to ground; twig glabrous; bud 1–2.5 cm, sharp-pointed, not resinous
Leaves < 6 cm, dark green, faintly grooved on upper surface; tip sharply spiny
Seed cone < 9 cm; stalk < 15 mm; bract exserted 1.5–4.5 cm, spreading, tip with slender spine
Ecology: UNCOMMON. Steep, rocky, fire-resistant slopes, generally in canyon-live-oak phase of mixed-evergreen forest
Elevation: 210–1600 m.
Bioregional distribution: n Outer South Coast Ranges (Santa Lucia Range)
Synonyms: A. venusta (Douglas) K. Koch
Horticultural information: DRN: 4, 5, 6, 15, 16, 17 &IRR: 2, 3, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24 &SHD: 7, 8, 9, 14.