Abies numidica (Algerian Fir) is a species of fir, found only in Algeria, where it is endemic on Djebel Babor, the second-highest mountain (2,004 m) in the Algerian Tell Atlas.^[1][2]

Description

Abies numidica is a medium-sized to large evergreen tree growing to 20 35 m tall, with a trunk up to 1 m diameter. The leaves are needle-like, moderately flattened, 1.5 2.5 cm long and 2 3 mm wide by 1 mm thick, glossy dark green with a patch of greenish-white stomata near the tip above, and with two greenish-white bands of stomata below. The tip of the leaf is variable, usually pointed, but sometimes slightly notched at the tip, particularly on slow-growing shoots on older trees. The cones are glaucous green with a pink or violet tinge, maturing brown, 10 20 cm long and 4 cm broad, with about 150 200 scales, each scale with a short bract (not visible on the closed cone) and two winged seeds; they disintegrate when mature to release the seeds.^[1]

Distribution

Abies numidica grows in a high-altitude Mediterranean climate at 1,800 2,004 m (rarely down to 1,220 m) with an annual precipitation of 1,500 2,000 mm, the great majority of which falls as winter snow; the summers are warm and very dry. It is closely related to Abies pinsapo (Spanish Fir), which occurs further west in the Rif mountains of Morocco and in southern Spain.^[1]

Cultivation and uses

Algerian Fir, Abies numidica, is occasionally grown as an ornamental tree in parks and larger gardens. It is valued among firs for its drought tolerance.

References

ar: de:Numidische Tanne es:Abies numidica eo:Numida abio fr:Abies numidica it:Abies numidica koi: udm: