Abstract: The plants of the genus Abies are dominant and key species in dark conifer forest in the Northern Hemisphere. There are 52 species, 1 subspecies and 12 varities of genus Abies in the world. The history and modern distribution of
Abies were discussed at present paper. The genus has 3 modern distributional centers: South Europe, North America and East Asia. These areas are also rich in fossil records. The vertical distribution regions of Abies are from sea level to 4 700m, concentrated in 1 000 - 2 000 m (15 species ) and 2 500 - 4 000 m ( 13 species ). In China, the genus distributes in 20 provinces, especially abundant in the Hengduan Mountians. Meanwhile endemic and relic phenomea are obvious in this genus. There are 7 relical species with both limited individuals and limited distributed regions. Based on the fossil records and the newest phylogenetic data, the following hypothesis was proposed: Abies originated from the mid- and high altitude of the Northern Hemisphere in the Middle Cretaceous and it was dispersed forward to the south area in the Eocene due to global climate cooler down. The distribution of Abies was deeply impacted by geological events such as upleft of Himalaya, Alps, Rocky Mountains, the occurrence of Aisan Monsoon as well as Quaternary glaciers. Finally the current
distribution pattern appeared at the Quaternary. The genus Abies has similar fossil history and modern distribution pattern with Cathaya and Pseudolarix.

Key words: Abies

摘要： 冷杉是北半球阴暗针叶林的优势种和建群种, 现全世界共有52 种1 亚种12 变种, 在北半球形成南欧、北美和东亚三个分布中心, 这三个地区也是冷杉属化石最丰富的地区。在垂直分布上, 冷杉集中分布于1 000～2 000m (15 种) 和2 500～4 000 m (13 种) 两个海拔地段。在中国, 冷杉植物呈南北间断分布, 集中分布在横断山地区。冷杉属的特有现象和孑遗分布现象都十分突出, 有7 个种呈孑遗分布。根据冷杉属的地史分布和现代分布的研究并结合最新的系统演化资料, 本文推测冷杉属于白垩世中期起源于北半球的中高纬度地区, 始新世以后, 随着全球气候的变冷, 逐步向南迁移, 由于喜马拉雅山脉、阿尔卑斯山、落基山脉抬升及东亚季风气候的出现以及第四纪冰期的影响而形成了现代间断的分布格局。冷杉与银杉、金钱松等其它松科植物的形成模式十分相似。

关键词: 冷杉属, 地史分布, 现代分布, 起源, 扩散FONT