'Abies 763 



The broad coriaceous leaves, ending in two cartilaginous points of unequal 

 size, and pectinately arranged, are characteristic of this species, which when once 

 seen, can scarcely be confused with any other. 



Abies holophylla, Maximowicz,^ which has been identified by Dr. Masters with 

 A. firma, is considered by Komarov,^ the latest observer, to be a distinct species. 

 It differs in the leaves not being bifid, and also in the bracts of the cone, which are 

 short, scarcely extending more than one-third the length of the scale. This species, 

 according to Komarov, attains 150 feet high, and grows in mountain woods at 

 elevations not exceeding 1800 feet above sea-level, in the Manchurian provinces of 

 Ussuri, Kirin, and Mukden, and also in northern Korea. It was introduced into 

 cultivation in Russia by Komarov, who sent seeds in 1898. 



Other specimens of Abies from the Chinese provinces of Hupeh, Shensi, and 

 Yunnan * have also been considered by Dr. Masters to be A. firma ; but this 

 identification is doubtful. (A. H.) 



Distribution 



This', the best known fir in Japan, is widely distributed in the south, and, 

 according to Mayr, does not extend north of lat. 40°, and attains perfection in the 

 warm sub-tropical provinces of Kii, Shikoku, and Kiusiu. It is very commonly 

 planted in temple grounds and parks, but few of these specimens looked as if the 

 isolated situation agreed with them ; and wherever I saw the tree growing naturally, 

 it was scattered among deciduous trees and other conifers in more or less shady 

 places in the forest. It grows to a great size in the sheltered valleys and moist, deep 

 soils of the central and southern provinces. I measured one at Myanohara, on the 

 Nakasendo road near Wada, which was 135 feet by 16 feet, but this tree was dying 

 at the top, and may have been planted or have been a natural seedling in a temple 

 grove. Another in the forest near the entrance to Koyasan was about 1 20 feet high 

 by 1 5 feet 9 inches in girth, but the average size of the mature trees that I saw was 

 not over 100 feet by 9 feet. A third, growing close to a temple at Narai (Plate 216), 

 measured 125 feet by ii|- feet. As the timber is of little value except for packing- 

 cases, tea-boxes, and pulp-wood, the tree is not much planted at the present time 

 except for ornament. It reproduces itself freely from seed whenever the conditions 

 are suitable, and its large greenish-yellow cones are fully formed in August. 



According to Rein* its natural habitat is from 1000 to 1500 metres, but though 

 this may be the case in the southern island, I should say it was too high for the 

 central provinces, as in Kisogawa I saw it much lower, and I do not think it there 

 reaches 4000 feet. 



This species was introduced into Europe in 186 1 by J. Gould Veitch,^ but has 

 never become common in cultivation, though it seems to be hardy even in some 

 parts of Scotland. It undoubtedly requires a warm, moist climate to bring it to 



1 Mil. Biol. vi. 22 {1866). 2 pia^ra Manshuria, 204 (1901). 



^ Joum. Linn. Soc. (But.) xxvi. S57 {1902); and/oum. Bot. 1903, p. 270. 

 * Industries of Japan, 235 (1889). Mayr says that it ascends to 700 feet in the north and to nearly 7000 feet in the south. 

 ' Hortus Veitchii, 335 (1906), where it is stated that it was also sent in 1878 by Maries. 



