Abies holophylla Maxim.

Nomenclature and Native Range

Abies holophylla, commonly known as needle fir or Manchurian fir, is a fir species native to mountainous areas of northern Korea, southern Ussuriland, and the Chinese provinces of Heilongjiang, Jilin, and Liaoning.

Tree Size and Crown Shape

It is an evergreen coniferous tree that grows to 30 meters (100 feet) tall with a trunk diameter of 1 meter (3 feet), and has a narrowly conical crown formed by horizontally spreading branches.

Bark Characteristics

Its bark is scaly, gray-brown, and marked with resin blisters.

Needle Dimensions

Its needle-shaped leaves are flattened, 2–4 cm (3⁄4–1+1⁄2 in) long and 1.5–2.5 mm (1⁄16–3⁄32 in) thick.

Needle Arrangement on Shoots

They extend at right angles from the shoot and end in a point. The needles arrange on two sides of the shoot, but do not lie flat like silver fir needles. They typically angle upward to varying degrees, creating a V-shaped open space above the shoot.

Needle Tip Texture

Unlike silver fir leaves, Manchurian fir leaves are sharp and prickly, with no indentation at the tip.

Needle Surface Features

The upper leaf surface is bright green, while the lower surface is whitish-green with two whitish strips, each made up of 7–10 wax-covered stomatal bands.

Shoot Characteristics

Young shoots are hairless, shiny yellow-gray, and mature to gray-brown.

Cone Size and Shape

Cones are 12–14 cm (4+3⁄4–5+1⁄2 in) long by 4–5 cm (1+1⁄2–2 in) wide, yellow-brown, slightly tapered, and have a bluntly rounded apex.

Cone Bract Structure

The cone bracts are hidden beneath the cone scales.

Seed Characteristics and Dispersal

Seeds are 8–9 mm (5⁄16–3⁄8 in) long with a 1.5 cm (5⁄8 in) wedge-shaped wing, and are released when cones disintegrate at maturity in October.

Ornamental Use

Manchurian fir is sometimes used as an ornamental plant, though this use is not common.