| Abies magnifica | |
|---|---|
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| Red fir forest,Giant Sequoia National Monument | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Gymnospermae |
| Division: | Pinophyta |
| Class: | Pinopsida |
| Order: | Pinales |
| Family: | Pinaceae |
| Genus: | Abies |
| Section: | Abies sect.Nobilis |
| Species: | A. magnifica |
| Binomial name | |
| Abies magnifica | |
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| Natural range ofAbies magnifica | |
Abies magnifica, thered fir orsilvertip fir, is a westernNorth Americanfir, native to the mountains of southwestOregon andCalifornia in theUnited States. It is a high-elevation tree, typically occurring at 1,400–2,700 metres (4,600–8,900 ft) elevation, though only rarely reachingtree line. The name red fir derives from thebark color of old trees.
Abies magnifica is a largeevergreentree typically up to 40–60 metres (130–200 ft) tall and 2 m (6 ft 7 in) trunk diameter, rarely to 76.5 m (251 ft) tall and 3 m (9 ft 10 in) diameter, with a narrow conic crown. Thebark on young trees is smooth, grey, and hasresin blisters, becoming orange-red, rough and fissured on old trees. Theleaves are needle-like, 2–3.5 centimetres (3⁄4–1+1⁄2 in) long, glaucous blue-green above and below with strongstomatal bands, and an acute tip. They are arranged spirally on the shoot, but twisted slightly S-shaped to be upcurved above the shoot.
Thecones are erect,9–21 cm (3+1⁄2–8+1⁄4 in) long, yellow-green (occasionally purple), ripening brown and disintegrating to release the wingedseeds in fall.
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There are three varieties:[2]
| Image | Scientific name | Description | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Abies magnifica var.magnifica,red fir | cones14–21 cm (5+1⁄2–8+1⁄4 in) long, bract scales short, not visible on the closed cones. | Range, primarily in theSierra Nevada. |
 | Abies magnifica var.shastensisLemmon,Shasta red fir | cones14–21 cm (5+1⁄2–8+1⁄4 in) long, bract scales longer, visible on the closed cone; bark 10–15 cm (4–6 in) thick. | The northwest of the species' range, in southwest Oregon andShasta,Siskiyou[3] andTrinity Counties in northwest California. |
| Abies magnifica var.critchfieldiiLanner | Also having long bracts, and additionally have smaller cones,9–15 cm (3+1⁄2–6 in) long. | the eastern slopes of southern Sierra Nevada |
Red fir is very closely related toAbies procera (noble fir), which replaces it further north in theCascade Range. They are best distinguished by the leaves; noble fir leaves have a groove along the midrib on the upper side, while red fir does not show this. Red fir also tends to have the leaves less closely packed, with the shoot bark visible between the leaves, whereas the shoot is largely hidden in noble fir. Shasta red fir hybridizes with noble fir, with which it is both chemically and microscopically similar;[3] some botanists treat the former as a natural hybrid between red and noble fir.
This tree was first recorded byWilliam Lobb on his expedition to California of 1849–1853, having been overlooked previously byDavid Douglas.[4]
Thewood is used for general structural purposes andpaper manufacture. It is also a popularChristmas tree.
Paiute peoples used the foliage of Shasta red fir (or perhaps noble fir) to treat coughs and colds.[3]
Media related toAbies magnifica at Wikimedia Commons
