Illustrations of Conifers. 





ABIES. 



EVERGREEN trees belonging to the Coniferse, with tall straight trunks 

 regularly whorled with branches. Buds at the ends of the shoots 

 either resinous or non-resinous. Leaves persistent for many years, 

 variously arranged on the branchlets ; on lateral shoots pectinate, 

 radially arranged or crowded and directed forwards in imbricated 

 ranks. On leading shoots the leaves are radially arranged and on 

 cone-bearing branches they are directed upwards. 



Leaves linear, flattened or quadrangular in section, upper surface 

 green, with or without stomata ; lower surface with two white or 

 greyish bands of stomata ; apex rounded, single-pointed or notched. 



Flowers monoecious. Cones ripening in one year, erect on the 

 branchlets, composed of thin woody scales, longer or shorter than 

 the bracts ; seeds two on each scale, winged and provided with 

 resin vesicles. The cone on maturity falls to pieces , the scales, 

 bracts and seeds separating from the central spindle-like axis. 



Abies are easily distinguished from all other conifers by the 

 circular base of the leaves, which, on falling or when pulled off" 

 show a circular scar on the branchlet. 



About 80 species of Abies have been described, natives of the temperate regions and 

 with a few exceptions confined to mountainous districts. 



