ABSTRACT A dendrochronological study was carried out to investigate the relationship between the growth of chir pine (Pinus roxburghii) and climatic variables in the subtropical forest of western Nepal.Using tree ring analysis and meteorological data gathered from a nearby meteorological station, a 78-year (1944 to 2021) long chronology has been created. Temperature and precipitation were found to have a substantial impact on P. roxburghii radial growth. Although there were positive correlations between precipitation and tree growth in January, December, and February to April, these relationships were not statistically significant. According to the correlation analyses, there was a negative relationship between the tree growth and the precipitation in September and August of the current year as well as the September of the previous year. Notably, temperature was crucial, as there were significant positive relations found between the minimum and maximum temperatures and tree growth. The temperature of the previous year (September, November, and December) as well as the current year (June to November) had a positive correlation with the growth of tree rings. The results indicated that while temperature was favorable for chir pine radial growth practically all months and seasons, summer to post-monsoon precipitation limited tree growth. Furthermore, the increasing average minimum temperature had a more significant relation with the tree ring growth than the average maximum temperature. Our result demonstrated that the growth of subtropicalP. roxburghiiresponded positively to the present scenario of rising temperature and falling precipitation in the study area. This research contributes valuable insights into the complex dynamics of forest ecosystems and their responses to changing environmental conditions. Pinus NepalUsing Nepal Using station 78year 78 1944 (194 2021 created P January December April analyses Notably crucial September, (September November June rings seasons postmonsoon post monsoon Furthermore subtropicalP area conditions 7 194 (19 202 19 (1 20 1 ( 2

ABSTRACTA number of conifer species are still lacking anatomical data, which is significant because morphological and anatomical data are essential for systematic study. Leaf anatomy was studied in selected species of Abiesand Piceausing light and scanning electron microscopy. Both genera were found to have typical coniferous and highly xerophytic leaves with sunken stomata and an epidermis covered by a thick cuticle. In the genus Abies, species can be differentiated by the nature of the lignified hypodermis and the number and position of resin ducts. Abies firma and A. holophylla have a continuous hypodermis whereas in A. koreana and A. nephrolepis the hypodermis is discontinuous and represented by isolated cells or groups of four or five cells. On the other hand, in Picea leaf shape, stomata arrangement, and number, position, and nature of resin ducts are the key features for species differentiation. Picea jezoensis has a flattened leaf with stomata distributed on the adaxial surface whereas P. abies and P. koraiensis have a rectangular leaf with stomata found on surfaces.