Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt.

Subalpine Fir

Synonyms: Pinus lasiocarpa Hook.; A. subalpina Engelm.

In nature a tree to 100 ft, occasionally to 160 ft, with a greyish or chalky-white bark; young shoots finely downy; buds ovoid, resinous. Leaves arranged like those of A. procera, to 11⁄2 in. long on lower branches, shorter and more inclined to be bunched and forward-pointing on upper branches; stomata on both surfaces. Cones dark purple, 21⁄4 to 4 in. long. Bot. Mag., t. 9600.

A native of western N. America at high altitudes, where it often forms beautiful park-like stands in sub-alpine meadows. It is an elegant, slender tree but finds our climate too soft and does not thrive.

var. arizonica (Merriam) Lemm. A. arizonica Merriam – Introduced in 1903. It has more glaucous leaves and owes its name, the corkbark fir, to its thick, corky, yellowish-white bark, and is found at high altitudes in the southern Rocky Mountains.

The name A. lasiocarpa is sometimes used erroneously for A. concolor var. lowiana.

From the Supplement (Vol. V)

specimens: Crarae, Argyll, pl. 1943, 52 × 23⁄4 ft (1976); Kilmun, Argyll, pl. 1937, 46 × 33⁄4 ft (1978); Altyre, Moray, 70 × 31⁄2 ft (1978); Coull House, Aberd., 62 × 53⁄4 ft and 66 × 43⁄4 ft (1983).

var. arizonica - specimens: Highclere, Hants, 75 × 5 ft (1978); Bayford-bury, Herts., 46 × 31⁄2 ft (1975); Speech House, Glos., pl. 1921, 51 × 3 ft (1975); Cortachy Castle, Angus, 66 × 5 ft (1980); Altyre, Moray, 36 × 31⁄4 ft (1980); Ardross Castle, Ross, 49 × 5 ft (1980).

† cv. ‘Compacta’. – Of slow growth, making a rugged specimen eventually 6 to 10 ft high, with grey-green young foliage. It was originally placed by Hornibrook under A. arizonica.