Abies sachalinensis

Abies sachalinensis

The Sakhalin fir (Abies sachalinensis (F. Schmidt) Mast., 1879) is an arboreal species belonging to the Pinaceae family.

Systematics –
From a systematic point of view it belongs to:
Eukaryota Domain,
Kingdom Plantae,
Pinophyta Division,
Pinopsida class,
Order Pinales,
Pinaceae family,
Genus Abies,
A. sachalinensis species.
Basionimo is the term:
– Abies veitchii var. sachalinensis F. Schmidt.
Within this species, the following subspecies are recognized:
– Abies sachalinensis var. gracilis (Kom.) Farjon, which grows in Kamchatk;
– Abies sachalinensis var. mayriana Miyabe & Kudo, who grows in Sakhalin and Hokkaidō;
– Abies sachalinensis var. nemorensis Mayr, which grows in Sakhalin and Hokkaidō.

Etymology –
The term Abies comes from Abies which is the classical Latin name (Virgil, Egloghe, from the Sanskrit root abh gush of resin); according to another interpretation it would derive from the Greek word ἄβιος = long-lived.
The specific epithet sachalinensis refers to the island on which it was “described” for the first time.

Geographic Distribution and Habitat –
Abies sachalinensis is a conifer that grows on the island of Sakhalin, in the southern Kurils (Russia), and also in northern Hokkaidō (Japan).
Its habitat is that of well-drained but humid soils for most of the year due to the rainy maritime climate that varies between cool and cold, at altitudes between sea level and 1650 m. In the north of its range it is frequently found between 800 and 1100 m, in mixed formations with other conifers (Picea jezoensis, Picea glehnii, Larix gmelinii var. Japonica and Pinus pumila). At lower altitudes, in addition to pure formations, in association with deciduous trees such as Betula ermanii, Quercus mongolica, Castanea crenata, Kalopanax septemlobus and Magnolia hypoleuca.

Description –
The Sakhalin Fir is a conifer that grows up to 30 m, with a trunk that can reach 1 m in diameter, with a pyramidal bearing with a flattened top in older specimens.
The bark is initially gray-brown, smooth with resinous blisters, with age it divides into irregular plates.
The branches develop horizontally, with an ascending posture. The shoots are brown, not very pubescent, slightly furrowed.
The leaves are needle-like, glossy dark green, up to 12-35 mm long, with a central vein and two bands of stomata on the underside; they are arranged in a spiral, twisted at the base, with jagged or obtuse tips. The buds are ovoid and very resinous.
Male strobili are 1 cm long, grow grouped, yellow with reddish microsporophylls.
The female cones are dark brown when ripe; they have an ellipsoidal-cylindrical shape and are 5-8 cm long and up to 3 cm wide, often arranged in groups, with acute or obtuse tips; the scales are reniform, pubescent, 10 mm long and 16 mm broad. The seeds are about 6 mm long, brown with black points, with a large black winged part of 5×5 mm.

Cultivation –
For the cultivation of this plant it should be taken into account that in nature it grows from sea level up to 1,650 m in different areas, but on the island of Sakhalin it is found at altitudes of 800-1,100 m in pure stands or in mixed forests with Picea jezoensis (Yezo spruce) and Picea glehnii around the treeline. It is also found at lower elevations with hardwood trees including Betula ermanii (Erman’s birch), Castanea crenulata, Kalopanax septemlobus (castor aralia), and Magnolia hypoleuca.
It prefers cool summers, mild winters and rainfall around 1,500 mm, in soils that tend to be well drained and humid, slightly acidic with a PH of around 5.
It is a very shade tolerant plant when young, growing slower in dense shade.
In humid soils it forms superficial root systems while in very saturated ones it forms a well-developed tap root.

Customs and Traditions –
Abies sachalinensis was first discovered by Carl Friedrich Schmidt (1832-1908), a Baltic German botanist who identified it on the Russian island of Sakhalin in 1866, but did not introduce it to Europe.
The plant was later rediscovered by the English plant collector Charles Maries in 1877 near Aomori on the main Japanese island of Honshū, although he initially thought it was a variety of Abies veitchii.
This conifer has until now been used in nature mainly for the production of wood pulp for the paper industry.
It is also grown in gardens and arboretums in Russia, Northern Europe, England and the United States.
From abies sachalinesis, tanning dyes, essential oils, fibers, wood and medicines are obtained.
Its timber is used to produce boxes, crates, pallets, poles, stakes, fences, wall panels and for use in carpentry (exterior / interior). However, the wood is of poor quality for use in construction and carpentry, but is heavily used in the paper industry.
It is also an important species in plantations in Hokkaido, where however other species of Abies are not used.
The bark is grayish white in color, which with age begins to become rough to the touch.
Regarding the ecological aspects of this species, despite the fact that economic exploitation is increasing in the parts of the range outside Japan, no specific and immediate risks for its survival have been identified; it is therefore currently classified as Least Concern in the IUCN Red List.

Preparation Method –
Until now, Abies sachalinensis has been mainly used for the production of wood pulp for the paper industry.
From this plant, tanning dyes, essential oils, fibers, wood and medicines are obtained.
It is also used in parks and gardens in Russia, Northern Europe, England and the United States.

Guido Bissanti

Sources
– Acta Plantarum – Flora of the Italian Regions.
– Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
– GBIF, the Global Biodiversity Information Facility.
– Useful Tropical Plants Database.
– Conti F., Abbate G., Alessandrini A., Blasi C. (ed.), 2005. An annotated checklist of the Italian vascular flora, Palombi Editore.
– Pignatti S., 1982. Flora of Italy, Edagricole, Bologna.
– Treben M., 2000. Health from the Lord’s Pharmacy, Advice and experiences with medicinal herbs, Ennsthaler Editore.
Photo source:
– https://inaturalist-open-data.s3.amazonaws.com/photos/63788178/original.jpeg
– https://plant.depo.msu.ru/open/public/item/MW0000610/img/0.jpg?gbif

Warning: Pharmaceutical applications and alimurgical uses are indicated for informational purposes only, they do not represent in any way a medical prescription; therefore no responsibility is taken for their use for curative, aesthetic or food purposes.