Abies borisii-regis

Taxobox
name = "Abies borisii-regis"
status = LR/lc | status_system = IUCN2.3
status_ref = [IUCN2006|assessors=Conifer Specialist Group|year=1998|id=42273|title=Abies borisii-regis|downloaded=12 May 2006]


image_width = 240px
image_caption = Intact and disintegrated Bulgarian Fir cones
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Pinophyta
classis = Pinopsida
ordo = Pinales
familia = Pinaceae
genus = "Abies"
species = "A. borisii-regis"
binomial = "Abies borisii-regis"
binomial_authority = Mattf.

"Abies borisii-regis" (Bulgarian Fir) is a species of fir native to the mountains of the Balkan Peninsula, in Bulgaria, northern Greece, the Republic of Macedonia, Albania and Serbia. It occurs at altitudes of 800-1,800 m, on mountains with a rainfall of over 1,000 mm.Farjon, A. (1998). "World Checklist and Bibliography of Conifers". Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew ISBN 1-900347-54-7.] Rushforth, K. (1987). "Conifers". Helm ISBN 0-7470-2801-X.] Rushforth, K. (1999). "Trees of Britain and Europe". Collins ISBN 0-00-220013-9.] Liu, T.-S. (1971). "A Monograph of the Genus Abies". National Taiwan University.] Gymnosperm Database: [http://www.conifers.org/pi/ab/borisii_regis.htm "Abies borisii-regis"] ]

It is a large evergreen coniferous tree growing to 40-50 m (exceptionally 60 m) tall and with a trunk diameter of up to 1.5 m. The leaves are needle-like, flattened, 1.8-3.5 cm long and 2 mm wide by 0.5 mm thick, glossy dark green above, and with two blue-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 10-21 cm long and 4 cm broad, with about 150-200 scales, each scale with an exserted bract and two winged seeds; they disintegrate when mature to release the seeds.

It is closely related to (and in many respects intermediate between) Silver Fir to the north in central Europe, Greek Fir to the south in southern Greece, and Nordmann Fir to the east in northern Turkey. Some botanists treat it as a natural hybrid between Silver Fir and Greek Fir, while others treat it as a variety on Silver Fir, as "Abies alba" var. "acutifolia". Another synonym is "Abies pardei".

The scientific name honours Tsar Boris III of Bulgaria, during whose reign it was described as a new species in 1925. The name is sometimes cited without a hyphen ("Abies borisiiregis"), though under the provisions of ICBN Article 60.9 the hyphen is to be retained.

References