Abies alba

Last updated

Silver fir
Abies alba Wisla 1.jpg
In Silesian Beskids, Poland
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnospermae
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Family: Pinaceae
Genus: Abies
Species:
A. alba
Binomial name
Abies alba
Abies alba range.svg
Distribution map:
  Native range and isolated population.
  Introduced and naturalized (synanthropic) area and isolated population.
Synonyms [2]
List
  • Abies argenteaChambray
  • Abies baldensis(Zuccagni) Zucc. ex Nyman
  • Abies candicansFisch. ex Endl.
  • Abies chlorocarpaPurk. ex Nyman
  • Abies duplexHormuz. ex Beissn.
  • Abies metensisGordon
  • Abies miniataKnight ex Gordon
  • Abies minorGilib.
  • Abies nobilisA.Dietr.
  • Abies pardeiGaussen
  • Abies rinziiK.Koch
  • Abies taxifoliaDuhamel
  • Abies taxifoliaDesf.
  • Abies taxifoliaRaf.
  • Abies tenuirifoliaBeissn.
  • Abies vulgarisPoir.
  • Peuce abiesRich.
  • Picea kukunariaWender.
  • Picea metensisGordon
  • Picea pectinata(Lam.) Loudon
  • Picea pyramidalisGordon
  • Picea rinziGordon
  • Picea tenuifoliaBeissn.
  • Pinus baldensisZuccagni
  • Pinus heterophyllaK.Koch
  • Pinus lucidaSalisb.
  • Pinus pectinataLam.
  • Pinus piceaL.

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. [1]

Contents

Silver fir trunk and bark of a tree in Vallombrosa State Forest (Italy) European Silver-fir Vallombrosa (FI), Italy.jpg
Silver fir trunk and bark of a tree in Vallombrosa State Forest (Italy)
Illustration of several parts of the plant Illustration Abies alba0.jpg
Illustration of several parts of the plant
Immature cone Abies alba R1.JPG
Immature cone
Seedlings Silver fir seedlings.jpg
Seedlings

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. [4]

The leaves are needle-like, flattened, 1.8–3.0 cm (0.71–1.18 in) long and 2.0 mm (0.079 in) wide by 0.5 mm (0.020 in) thick, glossy dark green above, and with two greenish-white bands of stomata below. The leaf is usually slightly notched at the tip. The cones are 9–17 cm (3.5–6.7 in) long and 3–4 cm (1.2–1.6 in) broad, with about 150-200 scales, each scale with an exserted bract and two winged seeds; they disintegrate when mature to release the seeds. [4] The wood is white, leading to the species name alba. [5]

In the forest the evergreen tends to form stands with Norway spruce, Scots pine, and European beech. [1] It is closely related to Bulgarian fir ( Abies borisii-regis ) further to the southeast in the Balkan Peninsula, Spanish fir ( Abies pinsapo ) of Spain and Morocco and Sicilian fir ( Abies nebrodensis ) in Sicily, differing from these and other related Euro-Mediterranean firs in the sparser foliage, with the leaves spread either side of the shoot, leaving the shoot readily visible from above. Some botanists treat Bulgarian fir and Sicilian fir as varieties of silver fir, as A. alba var. acutifolia and A. alba var. nebrodensis, respectively. [6]

Ecology

Silver fir is an important component species in the dinaric calcareous block fir forest in the western Balkan Peninsula.[ citation needed ]

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 caterpillars of the tortrix moth Cydia illutana , while C. duplicana feeds on the bark around injuries or canker.[ citation needed ]

Chemistry and pharmacology

The bark and wood of silver fir are rich in antioxidative polyphenols. [7] [8] Six phenolic acids were identified (gallic, homovanillic, protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic, vanillic and p-coumaric), three flavonoids (catechin, epicatechin and catechin tetramethyl ether) and eight lignans (taxiresinol, 7-(2-methyl-3,4-dihydroxytetrahydropyran-5-yloxy)-taxiresinol, secoisolariciresinol, lariciresinol, hydroxymatairesinol, isolariciresinol, matairesinol and pinoresinol). [9] [7] The extract from the trunk was shown to prevent atherosclerosis in guinea pigs [10] and to have cardioprotective effect in isolated rat hearts. [11] Silver fir wood extract was found to reduce the post-prandial glycemic response (concentration of sugar in the blood after the meal) in healthy volunteers. [12]

Uses

In Roman times the wood was used to make wooden casks to store and transport wine and other substances. [13]

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. [14]

Silver fir is the species first used as a Christmas tree, but has been largely replaced by Nordmann fir (which has denser, more attractive foliage), Norway spruce (which is much cheaper to grow), and other species. [4] When cultivated on Christmas Tree plantations, the tree naturally forms a symmetrical conical shape. The trees are full and dense with a resinous fragrance, and are known to be one of the longest lasting after being cut. As well as in its native area, it is also grown on Christmas tree plantations in the northeast region of North America spanning New England in the USA to the Maritime Provinces of Canada.

The wood is strong, lightweight, light-coloured, fine grained, even-textured and long fibred. The timber is mainly used as construction wood, furniture, plywood, pulpwood and paper manufacture. [15]

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". [16]

Etymology

Abies is derived from Latin, meaning 'rising one'. The name was used to refer to tall trees or ships. [5]

Alba means 'bright' or 'dead white'. [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douglas fir</span> Species of tree

The Douglas fir is an evergreen conifer species in the pine family, Pinaceae. It is native to western North America and is also known as Douglas-fir, Douglas spruce, Oregon pine, and Columbian pine. There are three varieties: coast Douglas-fir, Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir and Mexican Douglas-fir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fir</span> Genus of plants in the conifer family cedar

Firs are evergreen coniferous trees belonging to the genus Abies in the family Pinaceae. There are approximately 48–65 extant species, found on mountains throughout much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa. The genus is most closely related to Cedrus (cedar). The genus name is derived from the Latin "to rise" in reference to the height of its species. The common English name originates with the Old Norse, fyri, or the Old Danish, fyr.

<i>Picea abies</i> Species of plant

Picea abies, the Norway spruce or European spruce, is a species of spruce native to Northern, Central and Eastern Europe.

<i>Abies balsamea</i> Species of conifer tree

Abies balsamea or balsam fir is a North American fir, native to most of eastern and central Canada and the northeastern United States.

<i>Abies borisii-regis</i> Species of conifer

Abies borisii-regis is a species of fir native to the mountains of the Balkan Peninsula in Bulgaria, northern Greece, Kosovo, North Macedonia, Albania and Serbia. It occurs at altitudes of 800–1,800 m, on mountains with an annual rainfall of over 1,000 mm.

<i>Abies nebrodensis</i> Species of conifer

Abies nebrodensis, the Sicilian fir, is a fir native to the Madonie mountains in northern Sicily.

<i>Abies grandis</i> Species of conifer tree

Abies grandis is a fir native to northwestern North America, occurring at altitudes of sea level to 1,700 metres (5,600 ft). It is a major constituent of the Grand Fir/Douglas Fir Ecoregion of the Cascade Range.

<i>Abies concolor</i> Species of conifer tree

Abies concolor, the white fir, concolor fir, or Colorado fir, is a coniferous tree in the pine family Pinaceae. This tree is native to the mountains of western North America, including the Sierra Nevada and southern Rocky Mountains, and into the isolated mountain ranges of southern Arizona, New Mexico, and Northern Mexico. It naturally occurs at elevations between 900 and 3,400 metres.

<i>Abies magnifica</i> Species of tree found in North America

Abies magnifica, the red fir or silvertip fir, is a western North American fir, native to the mountains of southwest Oregon and California in the United States. It is a high-elevation tree, typically occurring at 1,400–2,700 metres (4,600–8,900 ft) elevation, though only rarely reaching tree line. The name red fir derives from the bark color of old trees.

<i>Abies procera</i> Species of conifer

Abies procera, the noble fir, also called red fir and Christmas tree, is a species of fir native to the Cascade Range and Pacific Coast Ranges of the northwestern Pacific Coast of the United States. It occurs at altitudes of 300–1,500 meters (980–4,920 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fraser fir</span> Species of conifer

The Fraser fir, sometimes spelled Frasier fir, is an endangered species of fir native to the Appalachian Mountains of the Southeastern United States. They are endemic to only seven montane regions in the Appalachian Mountains.

<i>Abies lasiocarpa</i> North American fir tree species

Abies lasiocarpa, the subalpine fir or Rocky Mountain fir, is a western North American fir tree.

<i>Abies amabilis</i> Species of conifer

Abies amabilis, commonly known as the Pacific silver fir, is a fir native to the Pacific Northwest of North America, occurring in the Pacific Coast Ranges and the Cascade Range. It is also commonly referred to in English as the white fir, red fir, lovely fir, amabilis fir, Cascades fir, or silver fir. The species name is Latin for 'lovely'.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Secoisolariciresinol</span> Chemical compound

Secoisolariciresinol is an organic compound. It is classified as a lignan, i.e., a type of phenylpropanoid. It is present in some cereals, such as rye, and together with matairesinol has attracted much attention for its beneficial nutritional effects.

<i>Abies sibirica</i> Species of conifer

Abies sibirica, the Siberian fir, is a coniferous evergreen tree native to the taiga east of the Volga River and south of 67°40' North latitude in Siberia through Turkestan, northeast Xinjiang, Mongolia and Heilongjiang.

<i>Abies holophylla</i> Species of conifer

Abies holophylla, also called needle fir or Manchurian fir, is a species of fir native to mountainous regions of northern Korea, southern Ussuriland, and China in the provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lariciresinol</span> Chemical compound

Lariciresinol is a lignan, i.e., a type of phenylpropanoids. It is the precursor to enterolignans by the action of gut microflora. Enterolignans are of interest because they are speculated to exhibit beneficial medicinal properties.

<i>Cryphalus piceae</i> Species of beetle

Cryphalus piceae, the small fir bark beetle, is a tiny bark beetle, about 1.7 mm long that is found in central and southern Europe. It infests mainly fir (Abies) and spruce trees (Picea) and occasionally can cause damage to branches and young trees, including tree death.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Farjon, A. (2017). "Abies alba". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2017: e.T42270A83978869. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2017-2.RLTS.T42270A83978869.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 "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
  3. 1 2 Gualtiero Simonetti (1990). Stanley Schuler (ed.). Simon & Schuster's Guide to Herbs and Spices . Simon & Schuster, Inc. ISBN   978-0-671-73489-3.
  4. 1 2 3 Rushforth, K. (1987). Conifers. Helm. ISBN   0-7470-2801-X.
  5. 1 2 3 Gledhill, David (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press. ISBN   9780521866453 (hardback), ISBN   9780521685535 (paperback). pp 32, 41
  6. A, Farjon (1990). Pinaceae. Drawings and Descriptions of the Genera. Koeltz Scientific Books. ISBN   3-87429-298-3.
  7. 1 2 Tavčar Benković, Eva; Žigon, Dušan; Mihailović, Vladimir; Petelinc, Tanja; Jamnik, Polona; Kreft, Samo (2017). "Identification, in vitro and in vivo Antioxidant Activity, and Gastrointestinal Stability of Lignans from Silver Fir (Abies alba) Wood Extract". Journal of Wood Chemistry and Technology. 37 (6): 467–477. doi:10.1080/02773813.2017.1340958. S2CID   90833072.
  8. 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.
  9. Tavčar Benković, Eva; Grohar, Tina; Žigon, Dušan; Švajger, Urban; Janeš, Damjan; Kreft, Samo; Štrukelj, Borut (2014). "Chemical composition of the silver fir (Abies alba) bark extract Abigenol and its antioxidant activity". Industrial Crops and Products. 52: 23–28. doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2013.10.005.
  10. Drevenšek, Gorazd; Lunder, Mojca; Tavčar Benković, Eva; Mikelj, Ana; Štrukelj, Borut; Kreft, Samo (2015). "Silver fir (Abies alba) trunk extract protects guinea pig arteries from impaired functional responses and morphology due to an atherogenic diet". Phytomedicine. 22 (9): 856–861. doi:10.1016/j.phymed.2015.06.004. PMID   26220633.
  11. Drevenšek, Gorazd; Lunder, Mojca; Benković, Eva Tavčar; Štrukelj, Borut; Kreft, Samo (2016). "Cardioprotective effects of silver fir (Abies alba) extract in ischemic-reperfused isolated rat hearts". Food & Nutrition Research. 60: 29623. doi:10.3402/fnr.v60.29623. PMC   5069298 . PMID   27756448.
  12. 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)
  13. Kilby, Kenneth (1977), The cooper and his trade, Fresno, California, Linden Publishing, p.99. ISBN   0941936163
  14. The London Medical Gazette. Longman. 1837.
  15. 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.
  16. "Fir Honey".