Abies sachalinensis (Sakhalin fir, "Todomatsu")

Japanese name: トドマツ （椴松）
Scientific name: Abies sachalinensis

[Overview]
An evergreen coniferous tree representative of Hokkaido.
The trunk is erect, reaching about 25 m in height and 50 cm in diameter.
The bark is grayish white and rather smooth, but peels off in irregular scales as the tree matures.
Young branches are pale brown and densely hairy.
The leaves are linear, 15–30 mm long and 1.5 mm wide.
The underside of the leaf has two narrow 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 ovate shape about 7 mm long.
The female flowers are also borne singly in the leaf axils of the previous year's branches, and are cylindrical.
The fruit is a cylindrical cone, 5–7 cm long and 2–2.5 cm in diameter, standing erect.
The cone is at first blackish brown but turns reddish brown when ripe, and the tips of the bract scales protrude slightly from between the seed scales.
After ripening, the scales of the cone fall apart, leaving the central axis.
The seeds are about 6 mm long, winged, and dispersed by wind in autumn.

[Uses]
The wood is used for pulpwood and other purposes.

[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 well-drained, fertile soil.
It is highly shade tolerant and does not like places that are too sunny.
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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