Abies homolepis (Nikko fir, "Urajiromomi")

Japanese name: ウラジロモミ （裏白樅）
Scientific name: Abies homolepis

[Overview]
An evergreen coniferous tree found from the upper montane zone to the middle subalpine zone at elevations of 1,000–2,000 m.
The trunk is erect, reaching 30–40 m in height and 1 m in diameter.
The bark is gray and peels off in scales.
Young branches are yellowish brown and hairless.
The leaves are linear, 10–25 mm long and 2–3 mm wide.
The upper surface of the leaf is glossy, and the underside has two broad white stomatal lines.
There are male and female flowers; the male flowers are borne singly in the leaf axils of the previous year's branches, with many stamens gathered in an elliptical shape.
The female flowers are also borne singly and upright in the leaf axils of the previous year's branches, and are reddish purple and cylindrical.
The fruit is a purplish cylindrical cone, 7–12 cm long and 3–4 cm in diameter, standing erect.
The seeds are about 8 mm long, winged, and dispersed by wind in autumn.

[Uses]
The wood is softer than that of Momi, and is used for construction and pulpwood, among other things.

[Cultivation]
Propagate from seed; because the seed is difficult to store, sow it immediately after collecting, or keep it from drying out and sow in March–April.
It prefers sunny, well-drained, fertile soil.
For plants in the ground, watering is not needed unless the soil becomes extremely dry, and no fertilizer is needed if the soil is fertile.
It grows large and takes up space, so a wide area is needed.
The roots are deep, and transplanting large trees is difficult.
Pests and diseases include longhorn beetle larvae (teppomushi).

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