olena
<font color=green>Emerald Angel<br><font color=mag
- Joined
- May 12, 2001
Provincial Tree
Balsam Fir
Abies balsamea
Description The only fir native to the Northeast, with narrow, pointed, spirelike crown of spreading branches and aromatic foliage.
Height: 40-60' (12-18 m).
Diameter: 1-1/2' (0.3-0.5 m).
Needles: evergreen; 1/2-1" (1.2-2.5 cm) long. Spreading almost at right angles in 2 rows on hairy twigs, curved upward on upper twigs; flat, with rounded tip (sometimes notched or sharp-pointed). Shiny dark green above, with 2 narrow whitish bands beneath.
Bark: brown, thin, smooth, with many resin blisters, becoming scaly.
Cones: 2-3 1/4" (5-8 cm) long; cylindrical; dark purple; upright on topmost twigs; cone-scales finely hairy, bracts mostly short and hidden; paired long-winged seeds.
Habitat Coniferous forests; often in pure stands.
Range Alberta east to Labrador and south to Pennsylvania, west to Minnesota and NE. Iowa; local in West Virginia and Virginia; to timberline in north and above 4000' (1219 m) in south.
Discussion A major pulpwood species. Interior knotty pine paneling is a special product; Christmas trees, wreaths, and balsam pillows utilize the aromatic foliage. Canada balsam, an aromatic oleoresin obtained from swellings or resin blisters in the bark, is used for mounting microscopic specimens and for optical cement. Deer and moose browse the foliage in winter.
Balsam Fir
Abies balsamea
Description The only fir native to the Northeast, with narrow, pointed, spirelike crown of spreading branches and aromatic foliage.
Height: 40-60' (12-18 m).
Diameter: 1-1/2' (0.3-0.5 m).
Needles: evergreen; 1/2-1" (1.2-2.5 cm) long. Spreading almost at right angles in 2 rows on hairy twigs, curved upward on upper twigs; flat, with rounded tip (sometimes notched or sharp-pointed). Shiny dark green above, with 2 narrow whitish bands beneath.
Bark: brown, thin, smooth, with many resin blisters, becoming scaly.
Cones: 2-3 1/4" (5-8 cm) long; cylindrical; dark purple; upright on topmost twigs; cone-scales finely hairy, bracts mostly short and hidden; paired long-winged seeds.
Habitat Coniferous forests; often in pure stands.
Range Alberta east to Labrador and south to Pennsylvania, west to Minnesota and NE. Iowa; local in West Virginia and Virginia; to timberline in north and above 4000' (1219 m) in south.
Discussion A major pulpwood species. Interior knotty pine paneling is a special product; Christmas trees, wreaths, and balsam pillows utilize the aromatic foliage. Canada balsam, an aromatic oleoresin obtained from swellings or resin blisters in the bark, is used for mounting microscopic specimens and for optical cement. Deer and moose browse the foliage in winter.
