Cedrus atlantica commonly known as Atlas Cedar. The tree’s
native habitat is on the mountains of Algeria and Morocco. It is a large
growing evergreen tree that grows 30-35 m (100 – 118 ft) in height with a trunk
diameter of 1.5–2 m (5-7 ft). Sometime it grows up to 40 m (131 ft) in height.
The Atlas Cedar differs principally from other Cedars in
having an erect leader and ascending ends to the branches. Furthermore, it has
a blue-green foliage, and may even be grey; and the cones are usually more
numerous and rather smaller and less barrel-shaped.
The trees are conical when young, later developing massive trunks
and large, ascending branches. The branch-lets are of two kinds; the long
terminal growth shoots with needles scattered around them (‘juvenile’ foliage),
and short spur growths with needles in rosettes. The mature needles are about
an inch in length, and slightly bluish-green.
Both sexes of flowers are usually found on different
branches of the same tree. The male catkins, in regimented rows, are long and
erect, dull greyish-green with a purplish bloom, liberating bright yellow
pollen in autumn. The females are small, greenish, erect cone-lets, and the
resultant erect resinous barrel-shaped green cones do not reach full size until
after two years, when they turn brown and ripen within a few months. They then
gradually break up, releasing their winged seeds, the central spike of the cne
alone remaining.
At first the bark is smooth and grey, but with age becomes
brown, furrowed and scaly. The wood has a narrow whitish sapwood and a
mid-brown heartwood, and is fairly hard, fragrant, naturally durable, and will
work to a fine finish. It is scarce, hence little used commercially.
The variety glauca, a blue form in cultivating, has very
pleasing blue or glaucous needles. In its most richly colored form it is one of
the most effective of all conifers, but the glaucous tint is an unstable
character. It is common in cultivation as an ornamental tree in temperate
climates. In garden settings, often the glaucous forms are planted as
ornamental trees. There are also fastigiated, pendulous, and golden-leaf forms
in cultivation. The Atlas cedar is useful in cultivation because it is more
tolerant of dry and hot conditions than most conifers. It was introduced to
Britain in 1845 by Lord Somers of Eastnor in Herefordshire. An Atlas cedar is
planted at the White House South Lawn in Washington, DC. President Carter
ordered a tree house built within the cedar for his daughter Amy.
Abies procera
commonly known as Noble Fir also known as Red Fir. It also a Christmas Tree. It
is native to Europe, North America. It is a large evergreen tree that grow
40–70 m (135–230 ft.) in height and 2 m (6.5 ft.) trunk diameter, sometime grow
up to 90 m (295 ft.) tall and 2.7 m (8.9 ft.) diameter, with a narrow conic
crown. It is a strikingly handsome conifer and is particularly distinguished by
its glistening silvery green foliage and pale bluish-grey bark. It was
introduced from Washington or Oregon in 1830.
The new shoots are rusty brown. The buds are small, round
and resin-tipped. The needles are dense and upswept, massed on the top of the
twig. They are a shining bluish-green on both surfaces, the upper being
grooved. When pulled away they leave a neat round scar, not a peg.
Both sexes of flowers are found on the same tree. The
handsome male catkins are deep purple, and borne in groups on the underside of
the lower shoots. The female flowers, reddish or yellowish-green with long
bracts, are erect and are to be found near the top of the tree and are thus
seldom seen (though some specimens flower when only 15-20 feet tall). These
develop into decorative large erect cylindrical pale green cones, 6 inches or
more long and 3 inches or wider, developing dark grey scales partly covered by
long green, reflexed, feathery bracts. They become brown and ripen and
disintegrate in September leaving the persistent central spike on the tree.
The bark is thin at first and pale grey, with some resin
blisters. Later the bark is pale bluish or silver-grey, coming broken by narrow
grooves into irregular plates covered with scales that flake off to show a red
inner bark. The stem bears whorls of branches, and often shows a marked taper,
terminating in a stout leader that usually has to help to bear the weight of
many heavy cones on its short side ranches. The wood is brownish-white,
somewhat similar to Spruce, and is used for joinery, packing cases, paper pulp,
and general purposes.
The tree is doing well silviculturally, on a
small scale, in damp, cold mountain situations in USA and Europe, where it has
proved hardy and stands exposure well. It is a useful and attractive
under-plant. As other fir this is also plant as ornamental tree in home garden or park.
Abies procera as Christmas Tree
Abies procera - Noble Fir – Red Fir
Leaves of Noble Fir
Abies procera Leaves
Male Catkin of Noble Fir
Male Catkins of Abies procera
Female Catkins of Noble Fir
Female Catkins of Abies procera
Red Fir Female Flower
Seeds of Noble Fir
Bark of Noble Fir
Long Trunk of Noble Fir
Abies procera - Noble Fir – Red Fir As ornamental plant
