Shensi Fir – Abies chensiensis

Leaves pectinately arranged in 2 lateral sets, dark green adaxially, linear, flattened, 1.5-4.8 cm × 2.5-3 mm, twisted at base, grooved above; stomata in two broad bands divided by a midrib below; resin canals 2, marginal or median on cone-bearing branchlets, apex variable. [1]

Shensi Fir is native to China; S Shaanxi, W Hubei (highlands), S Gansu, W Sichuan, SW Henan (Neixiang Xian) (Fu et al. 1999); Farjon 1990 also places it in SE Xizang and NW Yunnan, and India: Arunachal Pradesh. It grows primarily in cold, moist forests between 2100-3500 meters.

Grows to 50 meters and 250 cm DBH (diameter at breast height, formally 4.5 feet in the U.S.) The timber is light in weight, soft, fine grained, and used for construction. [2] 

The male and female cones are borne separately on the same tree; pollination is in early spring. The male cones are solitary, yellow, globose to oblong, 4-8 mm diameter. The mature female cones are ovoid-conic, 2-4 cm long, with 30-70 erect or slightly incurved (not reflexed) and downy seed scales; they are green when immature, turning brown and opening to release the winged seeds when mature, 6 months after pollination. The old cones commonly remain on the tree for many years, turning dull grey-black. The minimum seed-bearing age is 10 years.