European silver fir
Needles attached singly via sucker-like bases. On lower branches the needles spread either side of the shoot leaving a distinct central parting, arranged on the upperside in two ranks with shorter inner (upper) rank often angled slightly upwards. In very shaded conditions leaves can be almost pectinate as in A. grandis but check buds if in doubt. Needles in crown of the tree and especially on fertile shoots can be very different in appearance; often much more chunky and more upright along the twig rather than spreading to either side. Needles with two distinct bands of whitish-green stomata on the underside, and occasionally a small spot of stomata near the tip on the upperside. Terminal buds brown, ovoid and bluntly pointed; usually resin free. Shoot with covering of short dense hairs, ranging from beige to almost black. Cones usually high up in the crown of the tree, upright on branches and disintegrate in situ when mature. Bracts exserted, though amount exserted is variable.
European silver fir is naturalised in Great Britain and was introduced in 1603. In mainland Europe it is found from Germany down through the Alps and the Carpathians to the Balkans and southern Italy. In the latter two locations plants are found which are intermediate between this species and Greek fir (Abies cepahlonica. Currently known as Abies borisii-regis (King Boris' fir) these have sharp pointed needle tips, a large spot of stomata at the tip on the upperside of the needles, and dense dark hairs on the shoot.
This is an important forestry species in it's native range but problems with the aphid Adelges nordmannianae meant that it fell out of favour for that use in Great Britain. However, it is still widely found, often as lone trees in mixed stands and is still planted on a very small scale.