Overview
Brief Summary
Abies is a genus of between 48-55 species of evergreen conifers in the family Pinaceae, generally known as firs. They are found through much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, occurring in mountains over most of the range. Nine species are native to North America. Firs are most closely related to the cedars (Cedrus). Douglas-firs are not true firs, but are instead of the genus Pseudotsuga.
All are trees, reaching heights of 10-80 m (30-260 ft) tall with trunk diameters of 0.5-4 m (2-12 ft) when mature. Firs can be distinguished from other members of the pine family by their needle-like leaves, attached to the twig by a base that resembles a small suction cup; and by erect, cylindrical cones 5-25 cm (2-10 in) long that disintegrate at maturity to release the winged seeds. Identification of the species is based on the size and arrangement of the leaves, the size and shape of the cones, and whether the bract scales of the cones are long and exserted, or short and hidden inside the cone.
Abies wood is lightweight and decays quickly, so the primary timber uses are for pulpwood and construction (plywood). Some species have bark or leaves produce oleoresins that are used to make turpentine, varnishes, and Canada balsam (used as a slide fixative) and in the manufacture of medicinal compounds. The resin is reported to have numerous medical uses, including as an antiseptic, diuretic, expectorant, and vasoconstrictor. Various species have found widespread commercial success as Christmas trees, as celebrated in Hans Christian Anderson's famous fairy tale, The Little Fir Tree (recited in this YouTube clip). A few species are highly prized ornamentals.
Some Abies species are widespread in boreal forests around the globe; in lower latitudes, they are generally found at high elevations. A. sibirica forms vast forests through northeastern Russia and Siberia and Turkestan. A. alba, silver fir, is an important timber tree in southern and central Europe. A. balsam is important in northeastern North America, where it forms large single-species stands or is one of the dominant species in several boreal forest types. The North American silver firs (A. amarabilis and A. alba) are important in the coastal rain forests of the Pacific Northwest. A. concolor (white fir), A. lasiocarpa (alpine fir), and A. grandis (grand fir) are also extensive distributed in the Pacific and Mountain-Desert regions.
Firs are moderately important to wildlife. The young trees are used as cover for mammals and nesting sites for birds. Deer and moose browse the leaves, sometimes extensively in winter. At least 8 species of songbirds and several mammal species eat the winged seeds.
(Burns and Honkala 1990, Harlow et al. 1991, Martin et al. 1951, PFAF 2011, Wikipedia 2011)
- Burns, Russell M., and Barbara H. Honkala, tech. coords. 1990. Silvics of North America: 1. Conifers; 2. Hardwoods. Agriculture Handbook 654.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Washington, DC. vol.2, 877 p. Available online from http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/silvics_manual/table_of_contents.htm.
- Harlow, W.M., E.S. Harrar, J.W. Hardin, and F.M. White. 1991. Textbook of Dendrology. 7th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill. Pp. 160–179.
- Martin, A.C., H.S. Zim, and A.L. Nelson. 1951. American wildlife & plants a guide to wildlife food habits: the use of trees, shrubs, weeds, and herbs by birds and mammals of the United States. Prepared for U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Dept. of Interior. New York: Dover. Pp. 292–3.
- PFAF. 2011. Abies alba—Mill. Plants For A Future online database. Retrieved 20 November 2011 from http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Abies+alba.
- Wikipedia. 2010. "Fir." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 26 Apr 2010, 18:00 UTC. 7 May 2010. http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Fir&oldid=358452956.
© Jacqueline Courteau, modified from Wikipedia
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Distribution
Localities documented in Tropicos sources
Honduras (Mesoamerica)
United States (North America)
Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.
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Molina Rosito, A. 1975. Enumeración de las plantas de Honduras. Ceiba 19(1): 1–118.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/866
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USDA, NRCS. 2007. The PLANTS Database (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/100004579
© Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
Source:
Missouri Botanical Garden
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Localities documented in Tropicos sources
Mexico (Mesoamerica)
Note: This information is based on publications available through Tropicos and may not represent the entire distribution. Tropicos does not categorize distributions as native or non-native.
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SPECIMEN BASED RECORD. Published protolog data.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/9990002
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Liu, T. S. 1971. Monogr. Gen. Abies 1–608. Dept. of Forestry, College of Agriculture, National Taiwan University, Tapei.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/46742
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García-Mendoza, A. J. & J. Meave del Castillo. 2011. Divers. Florist. Oaxaca 1–351. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria.
http://www.tropicos.org/Reference/100009052
© Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO 63110 USA
Source:
Missouri Botanical Garden
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Ecology
Associations
Adelges nordmannianae sucks sap of live bud of Abies
In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Plant / epiphyte
fruitbody of Aleurodiscus amorphus grows on dying branch (attached) of Abies
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
fruitbody of Amanita ceciliae is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Abies
Remarks: Other: uncertain
Other: minor host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Amylostereum areolatum is saprobic on decayed wood of Abies
Plant / epiphyte
fruitbody of Amylostereum chailletii grows on dead, fallen log of Abies
Other: major host/prey
Plant / resting place / on
effuse colony of Antennatula dematiaceous anamorph of Antennatula pinophila may be found on twig of Abies
Plant / epiphyte
fruitbody of Antrodia xantha grows on decayed stump of Abies
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Asemum striatum feeds within dead under bark of Abies
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Auriscalpium vulgare is saprobic on decayed, buried or partly buried cone of Abies
Remarks: Other: uncertain
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Baeospora myosura is saprobic on decayed, often partly buried cone of Abies
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
fruitbody of Boletus subappendiculatus is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Abies
Remarks: Other: uncertain
Plant / resting place / within
immersed pseudothecium of Botryosphaeria abietina may be found in needle of Abies
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
Caloscypha fulgens is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Abies
Remarks: season: Spring
Other: uncertain
Foodplant / saprobe
stipitate, solitary or gregarious apothecium of Ciboria rufofusca is saprobic on fallen, rotting, stromatised cone scale of Abies
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Cryphalus abietis feeds within cambium of Abies
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Cryphalus piceae feeds within cambium of Abies
Animal / parasite
Cryptocline coelomycetous anamorph of Cryptocline effusa parasitises live Abies
Foodplant / parasite
mainly epiphyllous, subepidermal then erumpent pseudothecium of Delphinella abietis parasitises living needle of Abies
Remarks: season: 3-5
Foodplant / saprobe
immersed, often loosely grouped perithecium of Diaporthe eres is saprobic on wood of Abies
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Dryocoetes autographus feeds within cambium of Abies
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Dryophilus pusillus feeds within wood of Abies
Foodplant / parasite
fruitbody of Ganoderma applanatum parasitises live trunk of Abies
Other: minor host/prey
Plant / associate
Heringia is associated with aphid infested Abies
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
fruitbody of Hygrophorus pustulatus is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Abies
Remarks: Other: uncertain
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Hylurgops palliatus feeds within cambium of Abies
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Hymenochaete cruenta is saprobic on dead, fallen branch of Abies
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Hyphodontia arguta is saprobic on dead, decayed wood of Abies
Other: minor host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Hyphodontia pallidula is saprobic on dead, fallen, decayed wood of Abies
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Hyphodontia subalutacea is saprobic on dead, fallen, decaying wood of Abies
Other: minor host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Hypholoma marginatum is saprobic on dead, decayed woodships of Abies
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
fruitbody of Inocybe calamistrata is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Abies
Remarks: Other: uncertain
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Ips typographus feeds within cambium of Abies
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Ischnoderma benzoinum is saprobic on dead, fallen trunk (large) of Abies
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Judolia sexmaculata feeds within exposed root of Abies
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
fruitbody of Lactarius rufus is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Abies
Remarks: Other: uncertain
Foodplant / mycorrhiza / ectomycorrhiza
fruitbody of Lactarius salmonicolor is ectomycorrhizal with live root of Abies
Remarks: Other: uncertain
Other: major host/prey
Plant / associate
Laricobius erichsoni is associated with Abies
Foodplant / sap sucker
Leptoglossus occidentalis sucks sap of unripe seed of Abies
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Leptosporomyces galzinii is saprobic on dead, decayed wood of Abies
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Leucogyrophana romellii is saprobic on dead, decayed wood of Abies
Foodplant / saprobe
stromatic, immersed, up to 20 per stroma perithecium of Leucostoma kunzei is saprobic on dead branch of Abies
Remarks: season: 12-1
Other: minor host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Mariannaea anamorph of Mariannaea elegans is saprobic on wood of Abies
Foodplant / gall
mycelium of Melampsorella caryophyllacearum causes gall of stem of Abies
Plant / associate
larva of Melangyna quadrimaculata is associated with Adelgid-infected Abies
Foodplant / parasite
pycnium of Milesina dieteliana parasitises live Abies
Plant / associate
larva of Myrmedobia distinguenda is associated with dead, fallen needle of Abies
Foodplant / saprobe
in small groups, erumpent on thin stroma perithecium of Nectria pinea is saprobic on dead branch of Abies
Remarks: season: 9-5
Other: minor host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
perithecium of Nectria viridescens is saprobic on bark of Abies
Remarks: season: 9-5
Foodplant / open feeder
larva of Pachynematus montanus grazes on needle of Abies
Foodplant / open feeder
larva of Pachynematus scutellatus grazes on needle of Abies
Foodplant / saprobe
subepidermal, exposed by splitting apothecium of Phacidium abietinum is saprobic on decaying needle of Abies
Remarks: season: 5-8
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Pholiota squarrosa is saprobic on relatively freshly cut, white rotted stump of Abies
Other: unusual host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
densely scattered, erumpent pycnidium of Phomopsis coelomycetous anamorph of Phomopsis pithya is saprobic on dead bark of Abies
Foodplant / saprobe
conidioma of Pilidium coelomycetous anamorph of Pilidium acerinum is saprobic on fallen, dead needle of Abies
Remarks: season: 9-5
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Pityogenes chalcographus feeds within cambium of Abies
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Pityogenes quadridens feeds within cambium of Abies
Foodplant / feeds on
Polydrusus pilosus feeds on Abies
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Postia balsamea is saprobic on dead, decayed wood of Abies
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Prionus coriarius feeds within moribund root of Abies
Foodplant / open feeder
larva of Pristiphora abietina grazes on needle of Abies
Foodplant / open feeder
larva of Pristiphora ambigua grazes on needle of Abies
Foodplant / open feeder
larva of Pristiphora amphibola grazes on needle of Abies
Foodplant / open feeder
larva of Pristiphora compressa grazes on needle of Abies
Foodplant / open feeder
larva of Pristiphora saxsenii grazes on needle of Abies
Foodplant / open feeder
larva of Pristiphora subarctica grazes on needle of Abies
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Ramaria abietina is saprobic on dead, fallen, decayed needle of litter of Abies
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Rhagium bifasciatum feeds within dead wood of Abies
Foodplant / saprobe
superficial, clustered, hypophyllous pycnidium of Rhizosphaera coelomycetous anamorph of Rhizosphaera kalkhoffii is saprobic on dead needle of Abies
Remarks: season: late winter to early spring
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Skeletocutis nivea is saprobic on dead, fallen, decayed stick of Abies
Other: unusual host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
fruitbody of Stereum sanguinolentum is saprobic on dead, fallen, decayed wood of Abies
Other: major host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
effuse colony of Sterigmabotrys dematiaceous anamorph of Sterigmatobotrys macrocarpa is saprobic on dead wood of Abies
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Stictoleptura rubra feeds within dead wood of Abies
Foodplant / saprobe
immersed, becoming erumpeny conidioma of Strasseria coelomycetous anamorph of Strasseria geniculata is saprobic on dead twig of Abies
Remarks: season: 1-5
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Tetropium gabrieli feeds within wood of Abies
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Tomicus minor feeds within cambium of Abies
Other: minor host/prey
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Tomicus piniperda feeds within cambium of Abies
Other: minor host/prey
Foodplant / saprobe
Tubulicrinis subulatus is saprobic on dead, decayed wood of Abies
Other: minor host/prey
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Xylechinus pilosus feeds within cambium of Abies
Foodplant / saprobe
larva of Xylota coeruleiventris is saprobic on sap run of Abies
Foodplant / saprobe
larva of Xylota segnis is saprobic on sap run and decaying sap of Abies
Foodplant / saprobe
larva of Xylota sylvarum is saprobic on wet, decaying root of Abies
Foodplant / internal feeder
larva of Xyloterus lineatus feeds within cambium of Abies
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Molecular Biology and Genetics
Molecular Biology
Statistics of barcoding coverage: Abies sp.
Public Records: 0
Specimens with Barcodes: 4
Species With Barcodes: 1
© Barcode of Life Data Systems
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Statistics of barcoding coverage
| Specimen Records: | 224 | Public Records: | 169 |
| Specimens with Sequences: | 451 | Public Species: | 44 |
| Specimens with Barcodes: | 312 | Public BINs: | 0 |
| Species: | 47 | ||
| Species With Barcodes: | 46 | ||
© Barcode of Life Data Systems
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Barcode data
© Barcode of Life Data Systems
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Locations of barcode samples
© Barcode of Life Data Systems
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Wikipedia
Fir
Fir (Abies) is a genus of 48–55 species of evergreen coniferous tree in the family Pinaceae. It is found through much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, occurring in mountains over most of the range. Firs are most closely related to the genus Cedrus (cedar); Douglas-firs are not true firs, being of the genus Pseudotsuga.
All native species reach heights of 10–80 m (30–260 ft) tall and trunk diameters of 0.5–4 m (2–12 ft) when mature. Firs can be distinguished from other members of the pine family by their needle-like leaves, attached to the twig by a base that resembles a small suction cup; and by erect, cylindrical cones 5–25 cm (2–10 in) long that disintegrate at maturity to release the winged seeds. Identification of the species is based on the size and arrangement of the leaves, the size and shape of the cones, and whether the bract scales of the cones are long and exserted, or short and hidden inside the cone.
Contents |
Classification [edit]
- Section Abies (central, south & east Europe, Asia Minor)
- Abies alba—Silver Fir
- Abies nebrodensis—Sicilian Fir
- Abies borisii-regis—Bulgarian Fir
- Abies cephalonica—Greek Fir
- Abies nordmanniana—Nordmann Fir or Caucasian Fir
- Abies nordmanniana subsp. equi-trojani—Kazdağı Fir, Turkish Fir
- Abies nordmanniana subsp. bornmülleriana—Uludağ Fir
- Abies pinsapo—Spanish Fir
- Abies pinsapo var. marocana—Moroccan Fir
- Abies numidica—Algerian Fir
- Abies cilicica—Syrian Fir
- Section Balsamea (Taiga|boreal Asia and North America, and high mountains further south)
- Abies fraseri—Fraser Fir
- Abies balsamea—Balsam Fir
- Abies balsamea var. phanerolepis—Bracted Balsam Fir
- Abies lasiocarpa—Subalpine Fir
- Abies lasiocarpa var. arizonica—Corkbark Fir
- Abies lasiocarpa var. bifolia—Rocky Mountains Subalpine Fir
- Abies sibirica—Siberian Fir
- Abies sibirica var. semenovii—
- Abies sachalinensis—Sakhalin Fir
- Abies koreana—Korean Fir
- Abies nephrolepis—Khinghan Fir
- Abies veitchii—Veitch's Fir
- Abies veitchii var. sikokiana—Shikoku Fir
- Section Grandis (western North America to Mexico and Guatemala, lowlands in north, moderate altitudes in south)
- Abies grandis—Grand Fir or Giant Fir
- Abies grandis var. idahoensis—Interior Grand Fir or Giant Fir
- Abies concolor—White Fir
- Abies concolor subsp. lowiana—Low's White Fir
- Abies durangensis—Durango Fir
- Abies durangensis var. coahuilensis—Coahuila Fir
- Abies flinckii—Jalisco Fir
- Abies guatemalensis—Guatemalan Fir
- Abies grandis—Grand Fir or Giant Fir
- Section Momi (east & central Asia, Himalaya, generally at low to moderate altitudes)
- Abies kawakamii—Taiwan Fir
- Abies homolepis—Nikko Fir
- Abies recurvata—Min Fir
- Abies recurvata var. ernestii—Min Fir
- Abies firma—Momi Fir
- Abies beshanzuensis—Baishanzu Fir
- Abies holophylla—Manchurian Fir
- Abies chensiensis—Shensi Fir
- Abies chensiensis subsp. salouenensis—Salween Fir
- Abies pindrow—Pindrow Fir
- Abies ziyuanensis—Ziyuan Fir
- Section Amabilis (Pacific coast mountains, North America and Japan, in high rainfall mountains)
- Abies amabilis—Pacific Silver Fir
- Abies mariesii—Maries' Fir
- Section Pseudopicea (Sino-Himalayan mountains, at high altitude)
- Abies delavayi—Delavay's Fir
- Abies delavayi var. nukiangensis—
- Abies delavayi var. motuoensis—
- Abies delavayi subsp. fansipanensis—
- Abies fabri—Faber's Fir
- Abies fabri subsp. minensis—
- Abies forrestii—Forrest's Fir
- Abies densa—Bhutan Fir
- Abies spectabilis—East Himalayan Fir
- Abies fargesii— Farges' Fir
- Abies fanjingshanensis—Fanjingshan Fir
- Abies yuanbaoshanensis—Yuanbaoshan Fir
- Abies squamata—Flaky Fir
- Abies delavayi—Delavay's Fir
- Section Oiamel (Central Mexico, at high altitude)
- Abies religiosa—Sacred Fir
- Abies hickelii—Hickel's Fir
- Abies hickelii var. oaxacana—Oaxaca Fir
- Section Nobilis (western U.S., high altitudes)
- Abies procera—Noble Fir
- Abies magnifica—Red Fir
- Abies magnifica var. shastensis—Shasta Red Fir
- Section Bracteata (California coast)
- Abies bracteata—Bristlecone Fir
- Section Incertae sedis
- Abies milleri—(Extinct) Early Eocene[1]
Uses and ecology [edit]
The wood of most firs is considered unsuitable for general timber use, and is often used as pulp or for the manufacture of plywood and rough timber. Because this genus has no insect or decay resistance qualities after logging, it is generally recommended for construction purposes as indoor use only (e.g. indoor drywall framing). This wood left outside cannot be expected to last more than 12 to 18 months, depending on the type of climate it is exposed to. It is commonly referred to by several different names, including North American timber, SPF (spruce, pine, fir) and whitewood.
Nordmann Fir, Noble Fir, Fraser Fir and Balsam Fir are popular Christmas trees, generally considered to be the best for this purpose, with aromatic foliage that does not shed many needles on drying out. Many are also decorative garden trees, notably Korean Fir and Fraser Fir, which produce brightly coloured cones even when very young, still only 1–2 m (3–6 ft) tall. Other firs can grow anywhere between 30 and 236 feet tall. Fir Tree Appreciation Day is June 18.
Firs are used as food plants by the caterpillars of some Lepidoptera species, including Chionodes abella (recorded on White Fir), Autumnal Moth, Conifer Swift (a pest of Balsam Fir), The Engrailed, Grey Pug, Mottled Umber, Pine Beauty and the tortrix moths Cydia illutana (whose caterpillars are recorded to feed on European Silver Fir cone scales) and C. duplicana (on European Silver Fir bark around injuries or canker).
Abies spectabilis or Talispatra is used in Ayurveda as an antitussive drug.[citation needed]
Notes [edit]
Bibliography [edit]
Philips, Roger. Trees of North America and Europe, Random House, Inc., New York ISBN 0-394-50259-0, 1979.
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