Baishan Fir :: Abies beshanzuensis

Bad at Goodbyes :: Episode 066

On today’s show we learn about the Baishan Fir, a critically endangered evergreen conifer native to east Asia, specifically the Zhejiang Province in southeastern China, on the slopes of Mt. Baishanzu.

1. (00:05) Intro
2. (02:05) Species Information
3. (18:37) Citations
4. (20:20) Music
5. (27:03) Pledge

Research for today’s show was compiled from:

1. Christian, T. (2021), “Abies beshanzuensis”. Trees and Shrubs Online. – http://treesandshrubsonline.org/articles/abies/abies-beshanzuensis
2. Farm, Wanli Forest, and Chekiang Chingyuan County. "Abies beshanzuensis MH Wu—A new species of Abies from Chekiang." Journal of Systematics and Evolution 14, no. 2 (1976): 15. – https://www.jse.ac.cn/EN/Y1976/V14/I2/15
3. Hu, Rui, Yajing Liu, Jiaxin Zhang, Hua Xing, Sha Jiang, and Yu Liu. 2022. "Auxiliary Seed Treatment Is Necessary to Increase Recruitment of a Critically Endangered Species, Abies beshanzuensis (Pinaceae)". Forests 13, no. 6: 961. – https://doi.org/10.3390/f13060961
4. Hu, X. 2021. Abies beshanzuensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T32318A150298372. – https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-3.RLTS.T32318A150298372.en
5. Lifang Zhang, Yougui Wu, Jie Feng, Yang Zhang, Aya Hafsi, Donghao Wu, Jinliang Liu, Boliang Wei, Hongfei Lv, Mingjian Yu. “Obstacles affecting seedling germination and reproductive success of the critically endangered species Abies beshanzuensis.” Global Ecology and Conservation, v. 56, 2024. – https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03317
6. Liu, Bin, Ke Liu, Xiaorong Chen, Duohong Xiao, Tingjin Wang, Yang Yang, Hui Shuai, Sumei Wu, Lu Yuan, and Liping Chen. 2023. "Comparative Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Interaction of Sugar and Hormone Metabolism Involved in the Root Hair Morphogenesis of the Endangered Fir Abies beshanzuensis" Plants 12, no. 2: 276. - https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12020276
7. Liu, K., Xiao, D., Xiong, Y. et al. Grafting enhances growth vigor and photosynthetic capacity in the progeny of critically endangered Abies beshanzuensis. BMC Plant Biology 26, 56 (2026). – https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-07708-y
8. Shao, S., Jin, Z. & Weng, Y.H. “Lignin characteristics of Abies beshanzuensis, a critically endangered tree species”. Journal of Wood Science v. 54, 81–86 (2008). – https://doi.org/10.1007/s10086-007-0918-4
9. Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abies_beshanzuensis
10. Yang Ling, Liang Siqi, Pan Jiaming, Wei Jinxin, Ding Tao, Jiang Rihong, Shao Yizhen, Zhang Xianchun, Liu Yongbo, Xiang Qiaoping. “Species classification of endangered plants Baishanzu fir and resource fir and the protection of their genetic resources”. Chinese Journal of Plant Ecology v. 47 no.12: 1629-1645. (2023). – https://dx.doi.org/10.17521/cjpe.2022.0295
11. Y.Yang, D.Zhang, D.Luscombe, W-b Liao, A.Farjon, T.Katsuki, Q.Xiang, N.Li and K.Rushforth, 2019, “Abies beshanzuensis”. Threatened Conifers of The World. – https://threatenedconifers.rbge.org.uk/conifers/abies-beshanzuensis
12. Zhao, L., Li, T., Chen, X. et al. Resistance mechanism of Abies beshanzuensis under heat stress was elucidated through the integration of physiological and transcriptomic analyses. BMC Plant Biology 25, 621 (2025). – https://doi.org/10.1186/s12870-025-06641-4

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A note on accuracy: I strive for it! These episodes are well-researched and built from scholarly sources, hoping to provide an informed and accurate portrait of these species. That said, I’m a musician! I am not an academic and have limited scientific background. I may get things wrong! If you are using this podcast for scholarship of any kind, please see the cited sources and double-check all information.