Abies mariesii Masters var. kawakamii Hayata, J. Coll. Sci. Imp. Univ. Tokyo 25(19): 223. 1908.

Trees to 35 m tall; trunk to 1 m d.b.h.; bark gray-brown, scaly; branchlets initially yellowish brown, turning brown or brown-gray in 2nd or 3rd year, densely pubescent; winter buds globose, resinous. Leaves radially spreading or pectinately arranged in 2 lateral sets, bright green adaxially, linear, 1-2.8 cm × 1.5-2 mm, stomatal lines in 2 white bands abaxially, few and almost to apex adaxially, resin canals 2, marginal, apex slightly emarginate or obtuse. Seed cones subsessile, dark purple, ovoid or oblong-ovoid. Seed scales at middle of cones flabellate-trapeziform or -reniform, 1.5-2 × 2-2.5 cm. Bracts included, 1/2-3/5 as long as seed scales. Seeds 7-9 mm; wing ca. as long as seed.

* Mountains; 2400-3800 m. Taiwan