ABIES MAGNIFICA, Red Fir, Shasta Fir
- Abies magnifica, A. Murray, Proc. R. Hort. Soc. iii. 318, ff 25-33 (1863); Masters, Gard. Chron. xxiv. 652, f. 148 (1885); Sargent, Siva NV. Amer. xii. 137, tt. 618, 619 (1898), and Trees N. Amer. 66 (1905); Kent, Veitch’s Man. Coniferæ, 516 (1900).
- Abies nobilis, Lindley, var. magnifica, Kellogg, Trees of California, 28 (1882); Masters, Journ. Linn. Soc. (Bot.) xxii. 189, t. 5, ff. 19-21 (1886).
- Abies shastensis, Lemmon, Garden and Forest, x. 184 (1897).
- Picea magnifica, Gordon, Pinetum, 219 (1875).
- Pinus magnifica, M‘Nab, Proc. R. I. Acad. ii, 700 (1876).
- Pinus amabilis, Parlatore, in DC. Prod. xvi. 2, p. 426 (in part) (1868).
A tree, attaining in America 200 feet in height and 30 feet in girth. Bark, buds, and branchlets similar in all respects to those of Abies nobilis.
Leaves on lateral branchlets arranged as in A. nobilis; but with the median leaves above not so densely crowded as in that species, portions of the branchlet being visible from above, whereas in A. nobilis the branchlet is completely concealed; moreover, these median leaves are appressed to the branchlet at their bases for a shorter distance than in the other species. Leaves longer than in 4. xodzls, up to about 1¾ inch long, 1⁄16 inch wide, tapering gradually to the base, uniform in width elsewhere ; apex rounded, entire; obscurely quadrangular in section; upper surface with a central ridge and several (often eight) rows of stomata; lower surface with two bands of stomata, each of four to six lines; resin-canals marginal. Leaves on leading shoots erect and acuminate, with long rigid points pressed against the stem. Leaves on fertile branches much thickened, crowded, upturned, acute with short callous tips.
Staminate flowers dark reddish. Pistillate flowers with rounded scales much shorter than their oblong pale green bracts, which end in elongated slender tips.
Cones very large, 6 to g inches long, 3 to 5 inches in diameter, cylindrical, but slightly narrowing to the rounded, truncate or retuse apex; purplish-violet when growing, brown when mature, pubescent. Scales fan-shaped; lamina, 1¼ to 1½ inch broad, 1 inch long, upper margin rounded and incurved, the sides gradually narrowing to a cordate base ; claw nearly ½ inch long, narrowly obcuneate. Bracts, in the usual form of the species, about two-thirds as long as the scale and not exserted; variable in shape; upper expanded part oval, acute or acuminate, terminated by a mucro ; claw sharply contracted below the lamina. Seeds brownish, more than ½ inch long, slightly shorter than their pink obovate-cuneate wings.
