Abies grandis (N)

Common name: grand fir

Family name: Pinaceae

Useful cultivars and selections:  ‘Aurea’ (yellow new foliage) ‘Compacta’ (small round ball) ‘Johnsonii’ (narrow form)

USDA Hardiness Zone:  4

Mature height and spread:  30-76m; 8m

Form: evergrenn conifer

Water use: medium

Soil requirements: deep well drained soil, full sun part shade, dark green

Leaf arrangement:  long needle, longer than amabilis; have long needles and short needles; needle in two rows; white beneath

Flower/cone/fruit description(s):  erect, ovoid, 5-10cm, imbricate

Limitations: shade tolerant

Suitable uses:  grown as Christmas tree; ornamental tree in large parks

Quick ID description:  smell cleaner than amabilis; imbricate; erect

Photographs:

http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/abgra.htm

Abies amabilis (N)

Common name: Pacific silver fir

Family name: Pinaceae

Useful cultivars and selections:  ‘Compacta’(dwarf) ‘Hoyt HB’(silvery dwarf) ‘Procumbens’ (spreading) ‘Spreading Star’ (low growing)

USDA Hardiness Zone:  6

Mature height and spread:  20-40m; 5m

Form: evergreen conifer

Water use: medium

Soil requirements: moist, deep, well-drained soils

Leaf arrangement:  densely arranged, have ski jumper, leave shorter than grandis; two stomatal bands below

Flower/cone/fruit description(s):  cones erect, ovoid, 10-14cm, imbracte

Limitations: shade, salt tolerant, like cool

Suitable uses:  Christmas decoration, ornamental tree in large parks, paper making

Quick ID description:  ski jumper; strong smell; stomatal bands

Photographs:

http://oregonstate.edu/dept/ldplants/abam.htm

Print-based:

[1]Princeton Field Guides : Trees of Western North America, Nelson, Gil; Earle, Christopher J; Spellenberg, Richard

The resource of this book can also be found on the internet. You can also found the table of contents which is linked to different chapters on the website. This makes it quite easy to find what you need.

Besides the detailed introduction, what I like most is the quick ID which makes people quickly remember the characteristic of the tree. It also has the similar species part which help people to tell the differences between similar ones.

Digital

[1]http://conifersaroundtheworld.com/photos/thujopsis_dolabrata_cones_kórnik_arboretum_poland

I find this website very useful when I am learning the conifers. The name of this website is conifers around the world. Everything on this website is about conifers. It has some really excellent photos which can help you the characteristic of different conifers.

[2] http://www.botanical-online.com/botanical3.htm

This website is different from others. It is not about the information of different plants. It explains the proper names of botanical. While preparing the last exam, I was quite confused by the dry fruit. When I searched on the internet, I found this website which helped me understand what kind of fruit can be called dry fruit, and what characteristics they have.