Also known as Prince Fir, it is a member of the Pinaceae Family, with the Latin name of Cathaya argyrophylla.     

The evergreen arbor can grow as high as 24 meters, with a chest diameter of 4 to 8.5 meters. It bears dark gray bark which cracks into irregular flakes. Its linear leaves are spirally arranged, clustering closely on twigs. It's a monoecious plant. The ovoid cones are light brown or green brown. The seeds are dark green.       

It grows in mingled forests of coniferous and broad leaf trees and mingled forests of deciduous and evergreen trees about 940 to 1,870 meters above sea level. It usually germinates on steep slopes, ridges, isolating tor top or crevices of cliffs. It has a similar fetation as pine plants.

It's a relic species of China, mainly distributed in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Hunan, Sichuan and Guizhou provinces. The pollen of Silver Fir has once been found in tertiary period deposition in Eurasia, which is of great value for research. Gracefully shaped, it can be used for ornamental purposes.