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Plants For A Future: Database Search ResultsBack to: Pathways Home page, Main Search Page Help Bibliography Abies grandis
Physical CharacteristicsAn evergreen tree growing to 75m by 8m at a fast rate. It is hardy to zone 6 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, and the seeds ripen from September to October. The scented flowers are monoecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but both sexes can be found on the same plant) and are pollinated by Wind. We rate it 2/5 for edibility and 2/5 for medicinal use. The plant prefers light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and can grow in heavy clay soil. The plant prefers acid and neutral soils. It can grow in full shade (deep woodland) semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It requires moist soil. The plant can tolerates strong winds but not maritime exposure. It cannot tolerate atmospheric pollution. Habitats and Possible LocationsWoodland, Canopy, Deep Shade.Edible UsesDrink; Gum; Inner bark; Tea.
Inner bark - cooked. It is usually dried, ground into a powder and then
used as a thickening in soups etc or mixed with cereals when making
bread[161]. It is best used in the spring when it is rich and juicy[213]. An
emergency food, it is only used when all else fails[183].
Medicinal UsesDisclaimerAntirheumatic; Laxative; Ophthalmic; Skin; Stomachic; TB; Tonic.
A gum that exudes from the bark is used externally as an ointment[245].
It has also been used as a wash for sore and infected eyes and as a gargle
for sore throats[257]. A decoction is laxative and tonic, it is used to treat
stomach problems[257]. Externally, the gum is applied as a poultice to cuts
and sores[257].
Other UsesBaby care; Dye; Incense; Repellent; Roofing; Wood.
The aromatic leaves are used as a moth repellent[169]. The boughs have
been used in the home as an incense[257].
Cultivation detailsPrefers a good moist but not water-logged soil[1]. Grows well in heavy clay soils and succeeds in poor sandy soils[185]. Very shade tolerant, especially when young, but growth is slower in dense shade[81]. Intolerant of atmospheric pollution[1]. Trees succeeds in very exposed positions, even if the top is blown out by the wind the trees make one or more new tops and continue growing with no loss of vigour[11, 185]. Prefers slightly acid conditions down to a pH of about 5[200]. Prefers growing on a north-facing slope[200].This species thrives exceedingly well in the moister parts of Britain, where it grows very quickly[11]. It is cultivated for timber in W. and N. Europe[50]. Trees are slow growing for the first few years but they are then quite fast with trees growing 60 - 100cm in height and 8cm in girth per year even when they are quite large[1, 185]. New growth takes place from early May to July[185]. Trees grow best in the Perthshire valleys of Scotland and in the far west of Britain[11]. Some trees have reached heights in excess of 60 metres in 100 years in Wales and Scotland, making them amongst the tallest trees in Europe[200]. A very ornamental plant[1], it is rarely harmed by disease, insects or frost[1]. The crushed leaves have a fruity orange-flavoured aroma[185]. Trees should be planted into their permanent positions when they are quite small, between 30 and 90cm in height. Larger trees will check badly and hardly put on any growth for several years. This also badly affects root development and wind resistance[200]. Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly[200]. They hybridize freely with other members of this genus[200]. PropagationSeed - sow early February in a greenhouse or outdoors in March[78]. Germination is often poor, usually taking about 6 - 8 weeks[78]. Stratification is said to produce a more even germination so it is probably best to sow the seed in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in the autumn[80, 113]. The seed remains viable for up to 5 years if it is well stored[113]. When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on for at least their first winter in pots. Plant them out into their permanent positions in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts.Alternatively, if you have sufficient seed, it is possible to sow in an outdoor seedbed. One report says that it is best to grow the seedlings on in the shade at a density of about 550 plants per square metre[78] whilst another report says that they are best grown on in a sunny position[80]. Scent
SuppliersFor more details of plant suppliers please see our Suppliers Page which lists many more places to look. Web References
References for the family Pinaceae.
See the PFAF Links Pages for other sources. Also try Photos and info from the The Plants Database which has 14,000 images. References[K] Ken Fern
[1] F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951 [11] Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981 [46] Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959 [50] ? Flora Europaea Cambridge University Press 1964 [60] Hitchcock. C. L. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press 1955 [61] Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974 ISBN 0094579202 [78] Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948 [80] McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985 ISBN 0-901361-21-6 [81] Rushforth. K. Conifers. Christopher Helm 1987 ISBN 0-7470-2801-X [82] Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965 ISBN 0-486-20278-X [113] Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987 ISBN 0942375009 [161] Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture. [169] Buchanan. R. A Weavers Garden. [183] Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 [185] Mitchell. A. F. Conifers in the British Isles. HMSO 1975 ISBN 0-11-710012-9 [200] Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992 ISBN 0-333-47494-5 [213] Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980 ISBN 0-449-90589-6 [226] Lauriault. J. Identification Guide to the Trees of Canada Fitzhenry and Whiteside, Ontario. 1989 ISBN 0889025649 [229] Elias. T. The Complete Trees of N. America. Field Guide and Natural History. Van Nostrand Reinhold Co. 1980 ISBN 0442238622 [245] Genders. R. Scented Flora of the World. Robert Hale. London. 1994 ISBN 0-7090-5440-8 [257] Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998 ISBN 0-88192-453-9 Readers CommentsBack to: Pathways Home page, Main Search Page Help Bibliography
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