The genus name is derived from the Latin "to rise" in reference to the height of its species.[6] The common English name originates with the Old Norsefyri or the Old Danishfyr.[7]
They are large trees, reaching heights of 10–80 metres (33–262 feet) tall with trunk diameters of 0.5–4 m (1 ft 8 in – 13 ft 1 in) when mature. Firs can be distinguished from other members of the pine family by the way in which their needle-likeleaves are attached singly to the branches with a base resembling asuction cup, and by theircones, which, like those ofcedars, stand upright on the branches like candles and disintegrate at maturity.
Identification of the different species is based on the size and arrangement of the leaves, the size and shape of the cones, and whether thebract scales of the cones are long and exserted, or short and hidden inside the cone.
A. alba – the underside of leaves have two whitish strips formed bywax-coveredstomatal bands, while their bases are shaped like suction cups.
A. grandis foliage – upper side of the leaves, showing the leaves lying flat either side of the shoot
Foliage ofA. pinsapo showing the radial leaf arrangement in this species
Most firs are inbetween the two extremes of flat and radial, with an intermediate arrangement, often with longer leaves at the sides, and shorter leaves above the shoot; here,A. mariesii in Japan
Firs can be distinguished from other members of the pine family by the unique attachment of their needle-likeleaves to the twig by a base that resembles a smallsuction cup. The leaves are significantly flattened, sometimes even looking like they are pressed, as inA. sibirica.
The leaves have two whitish lines on the bottom, each of which is formed bywax-coveredstomatal bands. In most species, the upper surface of the leaves is uniformly green and shiny, withoutstomata or with a few on the tip, visible as whitish spots. Other species have the upper surface of leaves dull, greyish green or bluish to silvery (glaucous), coated by wax with variable number ofstomatal bands, and not always continuous. An example species with shiny green leaves isA. alba, and an example species with matt waxy leaves isA. concolor.
The leaves are arranged spirally on the shoots, but by being twisted at their base, the way they spread from the shoot is diverse; in some species comb-like ('pectinate'), with the leaves flat on either side of the shoot (e.g.A. alba,A. grandis), in others, the leaves remain radial (e.g.A. pinsapo)[8]
Foliage in the upper crown on cone-bearing branches is different, with the leaves shorter, curved, and sometimes sharp.[9]
Caucasian FirAbies nordmanniana young cones with reddish scales and yellow-green bracts
Noble firAbies procera, with five heavy (20 cm, approx 0.5 kg each) cones, three erect, and two hanging where their weight has caused the branch to twist
Firs differ from other conifers in having erect, cylindricalcones 5–25 cm (2–10 in) long that disintegrate at maturity to release the wingedseeds. In contrast tospruces, fir cones are erect; they do not hang, unless heavy enough to twist the branch with their weight.
The mature cones are usually brown. When young in summer, they can be green:
The cone scale bracts can be short and hidden in the mature cone, or long and exposed ('exserted'); this can vary even within a species, e.g. inAbies magnifica var.magnifica, the bracts are hidden, but in var.critchfieldii and var.shastensis, they are exserted. The bracts scales are often a different colour to the cone scales, which can make for a very attractive combination valued in ornamental trees.
The oldest pollen assignable to the genus dates to the Late Cretaceous in Siberia, with records of leaves and reproductive organs across the Northern Hemisphere from theEocene onwards.[10]
SectionGrandis is found in western North America to Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, in lowlands in the north, moderate altitudes in south.
Abies produce a variety ofterpenoids. The analyses of the Zavarin group – from Smedman et al. 1969 to Zavarin et al. 1977 – showed variation in terpenoid composition of the bark by genetics, geography, age and size of the tree.[17][18]
Green fir twig pictured on top of heart in the coat of arms ofLaukaa
Wood of most firs is considered unsuitable for generaltimber use and is often used aspulp or for the manufacture ofplywood and rough timber. It is commonly used inCanadian Lumber Standard graded wood.[19] Because this genus has no insect or decay resistance qualities after logging, it is generally recommended in construction purposes for indoor use only (e.g. indoordrywall onframing). Firwood left outside cannot be expected to last more than 12 to 18 months, depending on the type of climate it is exposed to.[citation needed]
Caucasian fir,noble fir,Fraser's fir andbalsam fir are popularChristmas 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, notablyKorean fir and Fraser's fir, which produce brightly coloured cones even when very young, still only 1–2 m (3 ft 3 in – 6 ft 7 in) tall. Many fir species are grown in botanic gardens and other specialist tree collections in Europe and North America.[20]
Abies spectabilis or Talispatra is used inAyurveda as an antitussive (cough suppressant) drug.[21][22]
^abSchorn, Howard; Wehr, Wesley (1986). "Abies milleri, sp. nov., from the Middle Eocene Klondike Mountain Formation, Republic, Ferry County, Washington".Burke Museum Contributions in Anthropology and Natural History.1:1–7.
^Debreczy Zsolt Rácz István and Kathy Musial. 2011.Conifers Around the World : Conifers of the Temperate Zones and Adjacent Regions. Budapest: DendroPress.
^abSeneta, Włodzimierz (1981).Drzewa i krzewy iglaste (Coniferous trees and shrubs) (in Polish) (1st ed.). Warsaw: Państwowe Wydawnictwo Naukowe (PWN).ISBN978-83-01-01663-0.
^Knowlton, F.H. (1923). Fossil plants from the Tertiary lake beds of South-Сentral Colorado (Report). Professional Paper. Vol. 131-G. United States Geological Survey. pp. 183–197.doi:10.3133/pp131G.
^Wolfe, J.A.; Schorn, H.E. (1990). Taxonomic revision of the Spermatopsida of the Oligocene Creede flora, southern Colorado (Report). Bulletin. Vol. 1923. United States Geological Survey. pp. 1–40.doi:10.3133/b1923.
^Groth, Jacob (10 November 2000)."Monarch Migration Study". Swallowtail Farms.Archived from the original on 9 May 2022. Retrieved21 July 2014.
^"Monarch Migration". Monarch Joint Venture. 2013.Archived from the original on 2017-10-31. Retrieved2017-10-25.
^Hemingway, R. W. (2018-01-18). "Bark: Its Chemistry and Prospects for Chemical Utilization".Organic Chemicals from Biomass. CRC Press. pp. 189–248.ISBN978-1-351-07525-1.
^Barton, George M. (2018-01-18). "Foliage".Organic Chemicals from Biomass. CRC Press. pp. 249–280.ISBN978-1-351-07525-1.
.JPG)
_(8620598021).jpg)
