the name given his species has become the common use. Cultivation The tree is a popular ornamental and is found in many arboreta. It grows in an equable Mediterranean climate with considerable precipitation during the winter and very dry summers. No one has been able to introduce it successfully in the eastern United States, but numerous groves thrive in Europe. Description The tall tree, has a slender, spire-like form. The thin bark is reddish-brown with wrinkles, lines and resin vesicles ('blisters'). The branches are downswept. The needle-like leaves are arranged spirally on the shoot, but twisted at the base to spread either side of the shoot in two moderately forward-pointing ranks with a 'v' gap above the shoot. The leaves are hard and stiff with a sharply pointed tip, 3.5–6 cm long and 2.5–3 mm broad, with two bright white stomatal bands on the underside. The flowers bloom in early May, and the ovoid, 6–9 cm long (to 12 cm including the bracts) cones mature and release winged seeds from late August to October. The cones differ from other firs in that the bracts end in very long, spreading, yellow-brown bristles 3–5 cm long. The male (pollen) cones are 2 cm long, shedding pollen in spring. Historical uses Resin from the trunk was used as an incense by the early Spanish mission. References This article contains content from public domain United States government sources. Further reading External links CalFlora Database: Abies bracteata (Santa Lucia fir) Jepson Flora Project Treatment: Abies bracteata Interactive Distribution Map of Abies bracteata Photos of foliage bracteata Endemic flora of California Trees of the Southwestern United States Natural history of the California Coast Ranges Santa Lucia Range Natural history of Monterey County, California Natural history of San Luis Obispo County, California ~ Near threatened plants Big Sur