Abies homolepis — Nikko fir
![Flowers: Abies homolepis. ~ By Polly Ryan-Lane. ~ Copyright © 2024 Polly Ryan-Lane, Courtesy of Smith College, Michael Marcotrigiano [mmarcot[at]smith.edu]. ~ Michael Marcotrigiano, mmarcotr[at]smith.edu ~ The Botanic Garden of Smith College - www.smith.edu/garden/home.html](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Pinaceae/abies-homolepis-fl-pryanlane1.jpg)
![Fruits: Abies homolepis. ~ By W. John Hayden. ~ Copyright © 2024 W. John Hayden. ~ jhayden[at]richmond.edu ~ U. of Richmond - https://facultystaff.richmond.edu/~jhayden](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Pinaceae/abies-homolepis-fr-whayden1.jpg)
![Winter buds: Abies homolepis. ~ By Bruce Patterson. ~ Copyright © 2024 Bruce Patterson. ~ foxpatterson[at]comcast.net](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Pinaceae/abies-homolepis-wb-bpatterson2.jpg)
![Bark: Abies homolepis. ~ By Bruce Patterson. ~ Copyright © 2024 Bruce Patterson. ~ foxpatterson[at]comcast.net](https://newfs.s3.amazonaws.com/taxon-images-1000s1000/Pinaceae/abies-homolepis-ba-bpatterson2.jpg)
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Facts
Native to central Japan, Nikko fir is partial to the edges of swamps and moist forests in our region. It is a 30-50 foot tall tree. Its glossy, dark-green needles have two white "racing stripes" on the underside.
Habitat
Forest edges, swamps
New England distribution
Adapted from BONAP data
Native: indigenous.
Non-native: introduced (intentionally or unintentionally); has become naturalized.
County documented: documented to exist in the county by evidence (herbarium specimen, photograph). Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
State documented: documented to exist in the state, but not documented to a county within the state. Also covers those considered historical (not seen in 20 years).
Note: when native and non-native populations both exist in a county, only native status is shown on the map.
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enlargeCharacteristics
- Habitat
-
- terrestrial
- wetlands
- New England state
- Rhode Island
- Growth form
- the plant is a tree
- Leaf form
-
- the leaves are needle-like
- the leaves are scale-like
- Leaf cross-section
- the needle-like leaves are flattened (can't be rolled between the fingers)
- Leaf arrangement
- there is one needle-like leaf per node
- Seed cone form
- the seed cone is longer than wide, with woody scales attached at the base
- Leaf clustering
- the needle-like leaves are single, with one per node
- Seed cone shape
- the seed cone is cylindrical (cylinder-shaped)
- Leaves overlapping
- the needle-like leaves are separate and do not hide the twig surface
-
Buds or leaf scars
- Winter bud shape
- the winter buds are ovoid (egg-shaped)
-
Fruits or seeds
- Seed cone base
- NA
- Seed cone bracts
- the bracts are covered by the seed cone scales
- Seed cone form
- the seed cone is longer than wide, with woody scales attached at the base
- Seed cone scales
- NA
- Seed cone shape
- the seed cone is cylindrical (cylinder-shaped)
- Seed cone symmetry
- the seed cone is symmetrical
- Seed cone umbo position
- there is no raised portion on the seed cone scale
- Seed cone umbo spine
- NA
- Seed wings
- the seeds have wing-like projections
-
Growth form
- Growth form
- the plant is a tree
-
Leaves
- Leaf arrangement
- there is one needle-like leaf per node
- Leaf base
- the base of the needle-like leaf is expanded to a circular attachment point
- Leaf clustering
- the needle-like leaves are single, with one per node
- Leaf cross-section
- the needle-like leaves are flattened (can't be rolled between the fingers)
- Leaf duration
- the needle-like leaves remain green all winter
- Leaf form
-
- the leaves are needle-like
- the leaves are scale-like
- Leaf glands
- there are no glands on the underside of the needle-like leaves
- Leaf stalks
- the needle-like leaves do not have a leaf stalk
- Leaf types
- there is only one type of needle-like leaf on the twig
- Leaves overlapping
- the needle-like leaves are separate and do not hide the twig surface
-
Place
- Habitat
-
- terrestrial
- wetlands
- New England state
- Rhode Island
- Specific habitat
-
- edges of forests
- swamps
-
Stem, shoot, branch
- Bark resin blisters
- the bark has small resin blisters on it
- Leaves on shoots
- the needle-like leaves do not grow in tight clusters on a short, knob-like shoot
- Twig bloom
- there is no bloom on the twig
- Twig hair type
- the twigs have few or no hairs on them
- Twig hairs
- the twig does not have hairs
Wetland status
Not classified
In New England
Distribution
- Connecticut
- absent
- Maine
- absent
- Massachusetts
- absent
- New Hampshire
- absent
- Rhode Island
- present
- Vermont
- absent
Conservation status
None
From Flora Novae Angliae dichotomous key
3. Abies homolepis Sieb. & Zucc. E
Nikko fir. RI. Forest edges, swamp margins.
Native to North America?
No