Abies procera at Cathays Cemetery

Grid reference	ST 18359 78836
Common name	Noble fir
Origin	West USA
Deciduous	No
Map section	L
Planted	by Malcolm Frazer c.1995
Height	9M July 2021
Girth	Inaccessible
Reference	733

This tree is north east of the chapels near the railway line.

Unfortunately it has been invaded by an ash tree and brambles which are severely affecting its growth.

General tree description

Abies procera is a very large tree, up to 50 metres in height and with a narrow conic shape. Its bark is smooth and silvery or purplish grey, but may become rough and fissured on old trees. Branches tend to diverge from the trunk at right angles. The leaves are needles 2.5 to 3.5cm long, the tips blunt or notched, bluish green above and with two narrow glaucous bands beneath. They are arranged spirally on the shoot, but twisted slightly S-shaped to be upcurved above the shoot. Male flowers are globular and cluster along the underside of the shoots. They are bright crimson before shedding pollen. Female flowers are upright miniature cones and they develop into very large cylindrical cones, 16 to 25cm long, purple-brown, ripening to golden-brown.