Territory - Park of the Queen

Greek fir - Abies cephalonica :

Fir native to southern Greece and its islands, where it is present in spontaneous formations between 700 and 1600 m above sea level, it is widespread in many parts of Europe where it was used in reforestation and for ornamental purposes.
Typically it has a conical habit with foliage that, with age, tends to become uneven.
The stages are inserted in whorls on the stem, often alterned; the outside of the cortex is grayish in young plants, with a tendency to darken and crack longitudinally in antiquated specimens.
Leaves: long needles, flattened, typically sharp and pungent; disposed as "brush" on the branch.
Bright green coloured, the underside presents two white bands containing the stomas, similar to those of Abies alba.
Reproductive structures: male cones are small, typically red when not yet ripe, yellowish because covered by pollen when ripe.
Female cones are cylindrical, carried erect, about 10-15 cm long, with triangular peaked bracts.
It has found use in reforestation of calcareous soils and in areas most drought than the ones typical for Abies alba; heliophilous plant but, when young, it also tolerates short periods in shaded areas.
In northern Greece there are lots of hybridized specimens with Abies alba.