The Fraser fir produces cones with a "bract" that extends past the scales, giving the cones the appearance of drooping on the branch. Needles are 1/2-1 inch long, darker green on the top and lighter on the bottom. They are flattened with a groove on the upper side and two white bands on the underside, which is where its pores (stomata) are located. Its needles are sometimes very dark green and occur in two rows. It is closely related to the balsam fir, another common Christmas tree variety, both known for their soft needles and pleasant fragrance.Ī unique characteristic of the Fraser fir is that its branches angle slightly upwards, giving it a compact appearance. The Fraser fir is rare in its natural Appalachian range but extensively planted and grown for Christmas trees. USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0 They disintegrate on the limb (almost never dropping to the ground intact), perch upright, and often ooze resin. The true fir cones are rarely seen up close as they grow toward the top of the tree. The cones of fir trees are very different when comparing species. This small woody projection makes a spruce's bark much rougher than a fir's. That attachment is much different than spruce needles, which are are attached with a peg-like petiole. In true firs, the base of each needle is attached to a twig by something that looks like a suction cup. There is a distinct lack of needles on the bottom sides of the twigs, unlike spruces that carry needles in a whirl all around the twig. The needles grow outward and curve up from the twig, forming a flattish spray. Fir needles are fairly soft, but spruce needles are sharp.įir needles are attached to twigs typically in two rows. You would not be able to roll a fir needle around on your fingertip, whereas a spruce needle has four sides and can be rolled. Unlike those on spruce trees, fir needles are fat and flat (think "FFF"). The shape of a fir tree is very narrow with rigid, upright, or horizontal branching as opposed to the "drooping" branches characteristic of some spruce trees. Left outside, the wood doesn't usually last more than 12 to 18 months, depending on the type of climate.įir needles are typically short and mostly soft with blunt tips. Therefore, their wood (commonly called North American timber, SPF (spruce, pine, fir), or whitewood in the timber industry) is generally recommended for cheaper structural construction and furniture. ![]() ![]() Many are also very decorative garden trees.įirs have absolutely no insect or decay resistance when exposed to the outside environment. Noble fir, Fraser fir, and Balsam fir are very popular Christmas trees, generally considered to be the best trees for this purpose. The trees are found throughout much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, occurring in higher elevations and mountains over most of the range. Pines have their needles attached to the branch in clusters of 2, 3, or 5, whereas firs and spruces have them attached individually to branches. They are members of the pine family ( Pinaceae) and can be distinguished from other pines by their needlelike leaves. ![]() True firs are in the genus Abies and there are between 40 and 55 species of these evergreen conifers worldwide.
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