Abies pindrow, the pindrow fir or west Himalayan fir, is a fir native to the western Himalaya and adjacent mountains, from northeast Afghanistan east through northern Pakistan and India to central Nepal.
It is a large evergreen tree growing to 40–60 metres (130–200 ft) tall, and with a trunk diameter of up to 2–2.5 metres (6 ft 7 in – 8 ft 2 in). It has a conical crown with level branches. The shoots are greyish-pink to buff-brown, smooth and glabrous (hairless). The leaves are needle-like, among the longest of any fir, 4–9 centimetres (1.6–3.5 in) long, flattened in cross-section, glossy dark green above, with two whitish stomatal bands on the underside; they are arranged spirally on the shoots, but twisted at the base to lie in a flat plane either side of the shoot. The cones are broad cylindric-conic, 7–14 centimetres (2.8–5.5 in) long and 3–4 centimetres (1.2–1.6 in) broad, dark purple when young, disintegrating when mature to release the seeds 5–7 months after pollination.
The closely related Gamble's fir occurs in the same area but on somewhat drier sites; it differs in shorter leaves 2–4 cm long with less obvious stomatal bands and arranged more radially round the shoot. The cones are very similar.
Recent research, however, has shown that Abies gamblei is not related to Abies pindrow. At West Himalayan locations in Himachal state in India visited by members of the Dendrological Atlas team, at around 3000 m the latter species is replaced by Abies gamblei, showing no intermediate forms. Such areas included Churdhar and the upper Sangla Valley at elevations between 3000 and 3400 m where these species have morphologically and ecologically clearly separated. Elevation-wise, pindrow fir occurs between 2,000–3,350 metres (6,560–10,990 ft) (although mostly between 2400 and 3000 m) and Abies gamblei from 3,000–3,500 metres (9,800–11,500 ft). Some references of 3,700 metres (12,100 ft) naming (in error) "Abies spectabilis" in the western Himalayas, most probably are true for Abies gamblei, but to confirm this would require further research.[2]
A. pindrow grows at altitudes of 2,400–3,700 metres (7,900–12,100 ft) in forests together with Cedrus deodara, Picea smithiana and Pinus wallichiana typically occupying cooler, moister north-facing slopes.
UsesEdit
The pindrow fir is used to a small extent for timber in its native range. It is occasionally grown as an ornamental tree in large gardens in western Europe, but demands high humidity and rainfall to grow well. The name pindrow derives from the tree's name in Nepali.
ReferencesEdit
^Xiang, Q.; Carter, G.; Rushforth, K. (2013). "Abies pindrow". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T42294A2970337. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42294A2970337.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
^Zsolt Debreczy; Istvan Racz (2012). Kathy Musial (ed.). Conifers Around the World (1st ed.). DendroPress. p. 1089. ISBN978-9632190617.
External linksEdit
Gymnosperm Database: Abies pindrow
August 28, 2023
abies, pindrow, pindrow, west, himalayan, native, western, himalaya, adjacent, mountains, from, northeast, afghanistan, east, through, northern, pakistan, india, central, nepal, pindrow, himachal, pradesh, indiaconservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, scienti. Abies pindrow the pindrow fir or west Himalayan fir is a fir native to the western Himalaya and adjacent mountains from northeast Afghanistan east through northern Pakistan and India to central Nepal Pindrow firAbies pindrow at Himachal Pradesh IndiaConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade GymnospermsDivision PinophytaClass PinopsidaOrder PinalesFamily PinaceaeGenus AbiesSpecies A pindrowBinomial nameAbies pindrow Royle ex D Don RoyleThis article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Abies pindrow news newspapers books scholar JSTOR August 2018 Learn how and when to remove this template message Contents 1 Description 2 Distribution and habitat 3 Uses 4 References 5 External linksDescription Edit Leaves of Abies pindrow It is a large evergreen tree growing to 40 60 metres 130 200 ft tall and with a trunk diameter of up to 2 2 5 metres 6 ft 7 in 8 ft 2 in It has a conical crown with level branches The shoots are greyish pink to buff brown smooth and glabrous hairless The leaves are needle like among the longest of any fir 4 9 centimetres 1 6 3 5 in long flattened in cross section glossy dark green above with two whitish stomatal bands on the underside they are arranged spirally on the shoots but twisted at the base to lie in a flat plane either side of the shoot The cones are broad cylindric conic 7 14 centimetres 2 8 5 5 in long and 3 4 centimetres 1 2 1 6 in broad dark purple when young disintegrating when mature to release the seeds 5 7 months after pollination The closely related Gamble s fir occurs in the same area but on somewhat drier sites it differs in shorter leaves 2 4 cm long with less obvious stomatal bands and arranged more radially round the shoot The cones are very similar Recent research however has shown that Abies gamblei is not related to Abies pindrow At West Himalayan locations in Himachal state in India visited by members of the Dendrological Atlas team at around 3000 m the latter species is replaced by Abies gamblei showing no intermediate forms Such areas included Churdhar and the upper Sangla Valley at elevations between 3000 and 3400 m where these species have morphologically and ecologically clearly separated Elevation wise pindrow fir occurs between 2 000 3 350 metres 6 560 10 990 ft although mostly between 2400 and 3000 m and Abies gamblei from 3 000 3 500 metres 9 800 11 500 ft Some references of 3 700 metres 12 100 ft naming in error Abies spectabilis in the western Himalayas most probably are true for Abies gamblei but to confirm this would require further research 2 Distribution and habitat Edit Abies pindrow at Mt Mukeshpuri Pakistan A pindrow grows at altitudes of 2 400 3 700 metres 7 900 12 100 ft in forests together with Cedrus deodara Picea smithiana and Pinus wallichiana typically occupying cooler moister north facing slopes Uses EditThe pindrow fir is used to a small extent for timber in its native range It is occasionally grown as an ornamental tree in large gardens in western Europe but demands high humidity and rainfall to grow well The name pindrow derives from the tree s name in Nepali References Edit Xiang Q Carter G Rushforth K 2013 Abies pindrow IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013 e T42294A2970337 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2013 1 RLTS T42294A2970337 en Retrieved 20 November 2021 Zsolt Debreczy Istvan Racz 2012 Kathy Musial ed Conifers Around the World 1st ed DendroPress p 1089 ISBN 978 9632190617 External links EditGymnosperm Database Abies pindrow Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Abies pindrow amp oldid 1135203434, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
