The following was received via email, from France: I have a question about a tree. We have a tree, and don't know its name. We searched everywhere, but the needles are different from the pictures we find. It seems a Picea , but the pineapple (cone) stands like a candle, they don't hang like other trees. The needles are planted all around, segments of ± 5 cm. I hope you understand my English, for I am a Dutch, living in France. The tree is in France, planted 1918, outline 2.60 metres, high 30 metres.
David Tarrant, one of UBC Botanical Garden's plant experts, has identified this plant as Abies pinsapo, commonly known as Spanish fir or hedgehog fir. Keith Rushforth's book, Trees of Britain and Europe mentions that the plant is native to southeastern Spain, in the mountains around Ronda. He also states, "This species is unusual in the nearly perfect radial foliage arrangement."
