Cicilian Fir
Abies cilicica (Antoine & Kotschy) Carrière
Abies cilicica, known as Cilician Fir or Taurus Fir, is a conifer in the Pinaceae family. It is native to Southern Turkey, with smaller populations in Lebanon and Syria. This species is a key component of the Abeti-Cedrion phytocoenosis, a forest type found in the middle and eastern Taurus Mountains, often in association with Cedrus libani, Acer hyrcanum subsp. tauricolum, and Sorbus torminalis subsp. orientalis. These forests are typically found between 800 and 2,100 meters in elevation. Historical logging, burning, and grazing have significantly reduced the range of these forests over the past 5,000 years.
Description
Abies cilicica is a fir species in the Pinaceae family, occurring in Southern Turkey and parts of Lebanon and Syria. It is a dominant tree in the Abeti-Cedrion forest type, which is part of the Taurus Mountains' ecosystem. This forest community is characterized by the co-occurrence of Abies cilicica, Cedrus libani, and subspecies of Acer hyrcanum and Sorbus torminalis. These forests are found between 800 and 2,100 meters elevation. Long-term human activities such as logging, burning, and grazing have fragmented and reduced these forests to isolated areas.
Other common names
Cilician FirSyrian firCicilian Fir
Distribution
Global · Lebanon-Syria · Turkey · SE
Synonyms
Pinus cilicicaPinus tchugatskoiPicea cilicicaAbies cilicica var. pyramidalisAbies kotschyanaAbies rinziiAbies selinusiaAbies tchugatskoi