Notice

Colin Mills, compiler of the Hortus Camdenensis, died in late November 2012 after a short illness. As he always considered the Hortus his legacy, it is his family's intention to keep the site running in perpetuity. It will not, however, be updated in the near future.

Abies pindrow Royle

Beautiful large tree of slender, conical habit, leaves bright green, with two greyish-white bands beneath, the winter buds large and orange-brown.  [RHSD, Hortus, Hilliers’].

Horticultural & Botanical History

Introduced to Britain in 1837.  [JD].  ‘By Dr. Royle the P. Pindrow is considered a distinct species from the P. Webbiana; and is characterised by its much smaller and thinner cones, which, too, are of a deeper purple colour, and seldom exceed three and a half or four inches in length, and its shorter, broader, stiffer, and furcate leaves.  But other characters there are none, and possibly it may be a mere variety.  If, however, the cone is uniform in size and colour, it would form a very characteristic mark.  I have in my possession a drawing taken from Dr. Royle’s original specimen brought by him from Tyne Teba and deposited in the Mussoone Garden.  It is now 20 feet high, and the cones never exceed 4 inches in length.  In P. Webbiana they are seldom met with under 7 inches.  The furcation of the leaf, noticed as a distinguishing character, is not characteristic, seeing that it is common to both.  In its distribution the Pindrow is much more restricted, and is in general found on more elevated positions, as on the Chor and Tyne Teba, &c.’  [JHS p.311/1853].  Leaves and cones are illustrated in Die Coniferen.  [Die Coniferen t.XXIV/1840-42].

History at Camden Park

Abies pindrow was included among desiderata in a letter to John Lindley dated 15th February 1848 [MP A2933-1, p.157] and to Sir William Hooker on 11th February 1848 [MP A2933-1, p.165] but was not marked ‘arrived’ on Macarthur’s copies.  

Notes

Published Jul 12, 2009 - 04:41 PM | Last updated Jul 29, 2010 - 03:21 PM

Leaves, cones and seeds are illustrated.  Die Coniferen t.XXIV, 1840-42.

Abies pindrow Royle | Die Coniferen t.XXIV/1840-42 | BHL.  Fig. ii on the right.

Family Pinaceae
Category
Region of origin

Himalayas

Synonyms
  • Pinus pindrow Royle ex D.Don
Common Name

West Himalayan fir

Name in the Camden Park Record

Abies pindrow 

Confidence level high