Biology:Abies numidica
| Algerian fir | |
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Gymnospermae |
| Division: | Pinophyta |
| Class: | Pinopsida |
| Order: | Pinales |
| Family: | Pinaceae |
| Genus: | Abies |
| Species: | A. numidica
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| Binomial name | |
| Abies numidica de Lannoy ex Carrière
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| Natural range | |
Abies numidica, the Algerian fir, is a species of fir found only in Algeria, where it is endemic on Djebel Babor, the second-highest mountain (2,004 meters) in the Algerian Tell Atlas.[1][2][3]
Description
Abies numidica is a medium-sized to large evergreen tree growing to 20–35 meters tall, with a trunk up to 1 meter diameter. The leaves are needle-like, moderately flattened, 1.5–2.5 centimeters long and 2–3 millimeters wide by 1 millimeters 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 centimeters long and 4 centimeters 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.[2]
Distribution
Abies numidica grows in a high-altitude Mediterranean climate at 1,800–2,004 meters (and rarely down to 1,220 meters) with an annual precipitation of 1,500–2,000 milliliters, 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 .[2]
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.[citation needed]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Yahi, N.; Knees, S.; Gardner, M. (2011). "Abies numidica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2011: e.T30320A9534972. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2011-2.RLTS.T30320A9534972.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/30320/9534972. Retrieved 17 November 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Farjon, A. (1990). Pinaceae. Drawings and Descriptions of the Genera. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN:3-87429-298-3.
- ↑ Alizoti, P.G.; Fady, B.; Prada, M.A.; Vendramin, G.G. (2009). "Mediterranean firs- Abies Spp.". EUFORGEN Technical Guidelines for Genetic Conservation and Use. http://www.euforgen.org/fileadmin//templates/euforgen.org/upload/Publications/Technical_guidelines/1507_Mediterranen_firs_Abies_spp.pdf. Retrieved 2016-10-19.
Wikidata ☰ Q2004978 entry
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