Abies delavayi var. delavayi, also known as Delavay's Fir, is a native tree species found in southwest China, southeastern Tibet, northeastern India, northern Myanmar, and northwestern Vietnam. It thrives in high altitude mountain regions, typically growing at altitudes of 3,000-4,000 meters, and is often found along the tree line. The tree has needle-like leaves that are 1" long, forming a trough in two rows. Its unique barrel-shaped cones are 4" in length and dark violet-black in color. The timber of Abies delavayi var. delavayi is used in construction, and tannin can be extracted from its bark. This species is named after Father Pierre Jean Marie Delavay, who discovered it in the Cangshan mountains near Dali. It is a small to medium-sized evergreen tree, growing up to 40 meters tall. The shoots of the tree are purple-brown to dark red-brown, and the leaves are needle-like, with a revolute margin. The cones are dark purple-blue and break up to release the winged seeds. Abies delavayi var. delavayi is occasionally grown as an ornamental tree in regions with cool summers and high rainfall. The tree is also known for its adaptation to exclude heavy rain in its monsoon climate, with its leaves having a glossy dark green upper surface and a vivid snow-white underside.
