Firs are evergreen trees with a pyramidal habit and spreading, whorled branches. Bark is usually smooth and thin on young trees, becoming thicker and more furrowed on older trees. Leaves are narrow and linear. Foliage is constricted above the base and is shed, leaving a relatively smooth twig. Flowers are monoecious. The fruit is a cone that is borne upright on the branches. Cone scales are shed individually with the seed, leaving a stick protruding above the branch.
Abies concolor–White (Concolor) Fir
| A. | Buds are not, or only slightly, resinous. Leaves of the middle rank (leaves directly above the twig) point upward and slightly forward. Glossy, dark green needles densely cover the stem. | |
| Abies nordmanniana–Nordmann Fir | ||
| AA. | Buds are resinous. Leaves of the middle rank spread outward and somewhat upward with a few stomatic lines near the apex. One-year-old twigs are gray or reddish-gray. | |
| Abies balsamea–Balsam Fir |
Balsam Fir–Abies balsamea
The true balsam is native to the northern wooded areas of the United States and Canada. A medium size tree, the balsam fir is usually not over 75 feet in height and has a pyramidal form with spreading, whorled branches. Bark is smooth on young trees and branches. The bark is very resinous when punctured and buds are resinous as well. One-year twigs are gray or reddish-gray.
Needles are 1/2 inch (13 mm) long, flat, and spirally arranged on twigs. Foliage is soft and has a pleasant, evergreen odor. Leaves of the middle rank spread outward and somewhat upward with a few stomatic lines near the apex. Flowers are monoecious and open in May. The upright cone is less than 2 inches (5 cm) long and matures in the fall. The scales and seed are shed, leaving only the central stem during the winter.
These trees are occasionally planted in Ohio for ornamental purposes and as Christmas trees and windbreaks. It is restricted in planting to the northern section of Ohio due to its heat intolerance. Balsam fir is quite sensitive to soil requirements. Fraser fir and Canaan fir are thought to be ecotypes of balsam fir and are preferred for Christmas tree use due to their greater heat-tolerance. Canaan fir is also more tolerant of high moisture. The ability to hold needles after being cut makes these firs desirable Christmas trees.
|
|
|
| Balsam Fir | White (Concolor) Fir |
White (Concolor) Fir–Abies concolor
This is a beautiful evergreen tree from the Pacific and Rocky Mountain regions. These firs have excurrent branching patterns and have a pyramidal habit with spreading, whorled branches. Bark is usually smooth and thin on young trees, becoming thicker and more furrowed on older trees. Leaves are narrow and linear.
Needles are flat, 1—2 1/2 inches (2 1/2—6 cm) in length, extending outward, and curving upward on the branches. Foliage is a pleasing silver color, ranging from white to bluish-green. Leaves are stomatiferous above and below. Foliage is constricted above the base and is shed leaving a relatively smooth twig that is quite different than the spruce twig.
 |
| White (Concolor) Fir |
Flowers are monoecious, occurring in May. The fruit is a 2-inch-long (5 cm) cone that is borne upright on the branches. Cone scales are shed individually with the seed, leaving a stick protruding above the branch.
An excellent tree for ornamental plantings, these firs develop into stately and graceful lawn specimens. It is hardy in all sections of the state and quite free from insects and diseases. Trees are very site-demanding and intolerant of excess moisture. Rocky Mountain seed sources are better adapted to Ohio conditions.
Nordmann Fir–Abies nordmanniana
Introduced from Asia Minor and the Balkan regions, the Nordmann fir is one of the best specimen trees for lawn and park plantings. It is a large tree, growing up to 100 feet, with distinct, spreading, pyramidal growth. Branches are spreading and whorled. Bark is smooth and thin on young trees, becoming thicker and more furrowed on older trees. Nordmann fir is sparsely planted in Ohio for specimen and ornamental purposes. Trees are site-demanding and very intolerant of poor drainage.
Needles are about 1 inch (2 1/2 cm) in length, dark green above with a lighter cast beneath. Leaves are not conspicuously bluish-green (stomatiferous). Stomatic areas are usually on the lower leaf surface. Leaves of the middle rank (leaves directly above the twig) point upward and slightly forward. Needles densely cover the stem, and are glossy, and dark green. Buds are not, or only slightly, resinous.