Abies
Source: Central and East Asia, Central and Southern Europe and North America.
Gender consists of 55 species that grows naturally in mountainous areas. They are trees, reaching 10 to 80 feet high, pyramid-shaped and layered branches, on which thin sheets are arranged acicular (needle shaped).
The flowers are produced in catkins, which produce the mature cones erect, very decorative, deciduous scales. Environments require fresh, light and not excessively moist soils, although some species like A. or A. cephalonica pinsapo that support or periods of drought and require sunny environments. They thrive well in deep soils and acid, although there are exceptions, as in A. nordmanniana or A. pinsapo that thrive best in calcareous soils.
It is often confused with spruce and pine, but there are differences between them. The fir branches are covered with needlelike leaves alternate, all similar, flattened, attached by suction cups to the outbreak rounded, are considerably shorter than in the pines. The branches of the firs, when dried, preserved almost always leaves, for example spruce melt. Another difference is the growth of branches, which rarely firs bow down, grow horizontally, almost perpendicular to the trunk. The fruits are cylindrical cones 5 to 25 cm long, compact, with scales or bracts that stand erect on the branches, clustered near the top. When mature fir do not appear as pine cones, but decompose releasing the seeds.
They are related closely with the cedars. All species are sensitive to frost, so that the transplant should be performed only at times when they are infrequent. They are characterized by a root system produndo, so are suitable for areas with high winds. Require subscribers to slow action fund to maintain optimal conditions in the levels of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, since they are sensitive to their lack. They can be frequently attacked by fungi, rot or fungal wilts. As to pests are attacked by lepidopteran proud. Is propagated by seed.