8/ ABIES ALBA 

Curiosidades: El nombre científico “Alba” alude al color blanquecino de su corteza. Con su madera muy homogénea y de gran resistencia mecánica se fabrican instrumentos musicales, elementos de ebanistería y vigas para la construcción. De su trementina, producida por destilación de la resina, se obtiene su aguarrás con alto contenido en hidrocarburos y utilizado como emplastos hasta principios de este siglo, los romanos la llamaban  “Lacryma abetis” y gozo de fama como balsámico.

• La infusión de su yemas se ha empleado  popularmente contra las tos y los catarros. 

• Presenta muchas variedades: péndula, columnaris, variegata.

• Muy apreciado por griegos y romanos para construir barcos. Posteriormente sus troncos fueron muy demandados para  utilizarlos como mástiles de nuestra marina.

• Es una bella conífera que forma imponentes selvas y, con el haya, hermosos bosques mixtos. Sus altísimos troncos alcanzan dimensiones colosales, se asemejan a columnas de una catedral gótica creando una atmósfera de penumbra, ya cantada por Virgilio, que nos induce al recogimiento y la meditación.

Longevity: Can live up to 300 years, reaching 50 m in height and 6 m in trunk diameter.

Habitat: Found in mid- and high-mountain regions of central and southern Europe. Prefers deep, cool soils and shaded slopes. Has a strong, deep root system that helps prevent erosion. Very sensitive to air pollution.

Distribution in Spain: Grows in the Pyrenees and Pre-Pyrenees from Navarra to Girona, reaching as far south as Montseny. Found between 700 and 2,000 m altitude, in various soils but favoring deep ones. Common in parks and gardens.

Characteristics: Wood is white, tough, elastic, and rot-resistant. The crown is pyramidal with a pointed top that flattens with age, forming the typical “stork’s nest” shape. Evergreen needles up to 3 cm long, dark green with two white bands beneath, arranged in two rows. Branches are nearly horizontal. Cones up to 16 cm long stand upright; when mature, their scales fall away, leaving the bare central axis. Flowers from April to July; cones mature in autumn.

Curiosities: The species name alba refers to its whitish bark. Its uniform, strong wood is prized for musical instruments, fine carpentry, and construction beams. The resin yields turpentine (“Lacryma abetis” to the Romans), once valued for its balsamic and medicinal properties. Bud infusions were used against coughs and colds. Numerous varieties exist (pendula, columnaris, variegata). Revered by Greeks and Romans for shipbuilding, later used for naval masts. Forms majestic forests — often mixed with beech — whose towering trunks create cathedral-like light and atmosphere, inspiring poets since antiquity.