Abies fargesii var. fargesii is found in southern Gansu, west Hubei, Shaanxi and northwest Sichuan at an altitude of 5000 - 12500 feet (1500 - 3800 m). The needles are in 2 or more horizontal rows, erect, shining green above the 2 whitish glaucous stomatal bands beneath, usually 2-pointed at the tip, rarely entire and then blunt or pointed, scarcely revolute at the margins, .8 - 1.5 inches (20 - 40 mm) long and .08 - .14 inches (2 - 3.6 mm) wide. The needles above are only half as long as the needles below. The immature seed-cones are bluish purple, maturing to purplish or reddish brown, 2 - 3 x 1 - 1.5 inches (5 - 8 x 3 - 4 cm). (RHS Encyclopedia of Conifers, 2012)
