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Abies pindrow (Royle ex D.Don) Royle, Ill. Bot. Himal. Mts. t. 86 1836. (Syn: Abies chiloensis Carrière; Abies himalayensis Lavallée; Abies pindrow var. intermedia A.Henry; Abies webbiana var. pindrow (Royle ex D.Don) Brandis; Picea herbertiana Madden; Picea pindrow (Royle ex D.Don) Loudon; Pinus naphta Antoine [Invalid]; Pinus pindrow Royle ex D.Don; Pinus spectabilis var. pindrow (Royle ex D.Don) Voss; Taxus lambertiana Wall. [Invalid]);
N. Afghanistan to Nepal as per WCSP;
Mountains from Afghanistan east to Nepal, Karakoram Range in Pakistan as per Catalogue of Life;
West Himalayan Fir, Pindrow Fir, himalayan silver fir; Kashmir: Badar, tung, drewar; Kumaon: Rogha, rao-ragha, rausla; Kunawar: Span, krok; Jaunsar: Morinda;
The Pindrow Fir or West Himalayan Fir (Abies pindrow) is a fir native to the western Himalaya and adjacent mountains, from northeast Afghanistan east through northern Pakistan and India to central Nepal. It grows at altitudes of 2,400–3,700 metres (7,900–12,100 ft) in forests together with Deodar Cedar, Blue Pine and Morinda Spruce, typically occupying cooler, moister north-facing slopes. It is a large evergreen tree growing to 40–60 metres (130–200 ft) tall, and with a trunk diameter of up to 2–2.5 metres (6 ft 7 in–8 ft 2 in). It has a conical crown with level branches.
The shoots are greyish-pink to buff-brown, smooth and glabrous (hairless). The leaves are needle-like, among the longest of any fir, 4–9 centimetres (1.6–3.5 in) long, flattened in cross-section, glossy dark green above, with two whitish stomatal bands on the underside; they are arranged spirally on the shoots, but twisted at the base to lie in a flat plane either side of the shoot. The cones are broad cylindric-conic, 7–14 centimetres (2.8–5.5 in) long and 3–4 centimetres (1.2–1.6 in) broad, dark purple when young, disintegrating when mature to release the seeds 5–7 months after pollination.
The closely related Gamble’s Fir (Abies gamblei, syn. A. pindrow var. brevifolia, A. pindrow subsp. gamblei) occurs in the same area but on somewhat drier sites; it differs in shorter leaves 2–4 cm long with less obvious stomatal bands and arranged more radially round the shoot. The cones are very similar.
Recent research, however, has shown that Abies gamblei is not related to Abies pindrow. At West Himalayan locations in Himachal State in India visited by members of the Dendrological Atlas team, at around 3000 m the latter species is replaced by Abies gamblei, showing no intermediate forms. Such areas included Churdhar and the upper Sangla Valley at elevations between 3000 and 3400 m where these species have morphologically and ecologically clearly separated. Elevation-wise, Pindrow fir occurs between 2,000–3,350 metres (6,560–10,990 ft) (although mostly between 2400 and 3000 m) and Abies gamblei from 3,000–3,500 metres (9,840–11,500 ft). Some references of 3,700 metres (12,100 ft) naming (in error) “Abies spectabilis” in the W. Himalayas, most probably are true for Abies gamblei, but to confirm this would require further research.[1]
Pindrow Fir is used to a small extent for timber and production in its native range. It is occasionally grown as an ornamental tree in large gardens in western Europe, but demands high humidity and rainfall to grow well.
(From Wikipedia on 7.12.13)
Gymnosperms Fortnight: Pinaceae-Abies pindrow Royle, from Kashmir and Chakrata-GS-1 : Attachments (4). 3 posts by 3 authors.
Abies pindrow Royle,, Illustr. Bot. Himal. 350,. t. 86,. 1836
Evergreen tree with Pyramidal crown,without short clustered branches, flattened leaves, 2-4 cm long, dark green above, spiral but somewhat two ranked; female cones 8-12 cm long, erect, usually violet-purple; male cones 1-2 cm long.
Photographed from Gulmarg, Kashmir and Deovan Road Chakrata. Good gymnosperm to begin with Sir. It is widespread in temperate zone of Uttarakhand. Abies pindrow and Abies spectabilis are similar species. Hope both of them will appear on this form with clear differences visible in photographs.
Abies pindrow from Kashmir, growing at higher altitudes, extending to the tree line. The trees are very tall, conical crown and leaves somewhat distichous, flattened, with two silvery lines beneath, hence the name silver fir. Photographed from Gulmarg on June 20, 2010.
English: himalayan silver fir
Kashmir: Badar, tung, drewar
Kumaon: Rogha, rao-ragha, rausla
Kunawar: Span, krok
Jaunsar: Morinda
Gymnosperms fortnight :: Pinaceae: Abies pindrow from Paddar valley SKR05 : Attachments (1). 4 posts by 4 authors.
Abies pindrow from Paddar valley J&K Very beautiful cones, thanks for showing … Is it really that purple. Amazing.
Gymnosperm Fortnight: Abies pindrow: 101213: GSG-01 : Attachments (2). 4 posts by 4 authors.
Abies pindrow, the ‘Himalayan Fir’, locally called ‘Tosh’, photographed at Kufri in Himachal Pradesh.
An important timber species sold under the name ‘Parhtal’, the wood is light and is used for indoor paneling, and packing. Till about 25 years back, the wood had preferred use in the manufacture of Gliders. Very nice photographs of Abies pindrow
Family Pinaceae. The genus Abies are the Firs. Around 40 species described.
 TNIGHT :: Abies species from Chakrata-NS 17 : Attachments (3). 4 posts by 3 authors. I know, this is insufficient post as this lacks any seeds or cones, still I wanted to post these pics, I hope they belong to Abies, can the species be known from these pics?
Shot from Chakrata.. Could be Abies pindrow, but not sure. It is always helpful to have good view of whole plant. It is Abies pindrow.
Cedrus deodara from Kashmir – efloraofindia | Google Groups : (mixed thread): 1 correct image as above. I am sending a picture taken from Pahalgam. Is it the same tree? Deodar generally does not grow at this altitude. Your plant is Abies pindrow. Sir Ji is quite right … I imagine if this could be Picea smithiana. Picea smithiana never grows that tall in Kashmir, also the crown is different. I have photographed all the four conifers from Kashmir in June visit. I will upload the other three (in addition to Cedrus deodara today) soon.
Another Panoramic shot from my friend, Sh. P.P.Shah taken on 9/5/07 on way to Zirmi Thaatch in Himachal during Sar Pass Trek. One hardly comes across such water holes at such heights.
Trees in the background are possibly of West Himalayan Fir (Abies pindrow). Please add images of Abies pindrow in e flora of india
Abies pindrow (Royle ex D.Don) Royle
Low level fir.
Locally called Tosh in Bhaderwah JK.
Captured – Padri Bhaderwah JK.
July 2018
Altitude – approximately 3200m.
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