Fir - Revision history

Raffi at 19:21, 17 August 2010

2010-08-17T19:21:31Z

Raffi at 18:09, 29 June 2010

2010-06-29T18:09:24Z

Murali.lalitha at 15:04, 27 June 2010

2010-06-27T15:04:51Z

Raffi: SCH

2009-03-26T01:12:10Z

SCH

Raffi: /* Species */ added unsorted section

2009-03-26T01:02:01Z

Species: added unsorted section

Raffi: plantbox, rearranged sections

2009-03-26T00:09:43Z

plantbox, rearranged sections

Raffi: added some info from AHS

2008-09-03T21:50:22Z

added some info from AHS

Raffi: Finished adding Sunset info

2008-09-02T23:34:13Z

Finished adding Sunset info

Raffi: added some species info and did some rewriting

2008-09-02T21:13:28Z

added some species info and did some rewriting

Raffi at 19:34, 2 September 2008

2008-09-02T19:34:07Z

@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 |lifespan=perennial
 |life_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
 |features=evergreen
 |Temp Metric=°F
-|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
+|sunset_zones=vary by species
 |image=Abies koreana cone.jpg
 |image_width=240

@@ Line 2: / Line 2: @@
 |familia=Pinaceae
 |genus=Abies
 |common_name=Fir
 |life_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
 |features=evergreen
 |Temp Metric=°F
 |jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
-|image=Upload.png
+|image=Abies koreana cone.jpg
 |image_width=240
 }}
 '''Firs''' (''Abies'') are a genus of between 45-55 species of [[evergreen]] [[Pinophyta|conifers]] in the family [[Pinaceae]]. All are [[tree]]s, and reach heights of 10-80 m (30-260 ft) tall with trunk diameters of 0.5-4 m (2-12 ft) when mature. Firs can be distinguished from other members of the pine family by their needle-like [[leaf|leaves]], attached to the twig by a base that resembles a small suction cup; and by erect, cylindrical [[Conifer cone|cones]] 5-25 cm (2-10 in) long that shatter at maturity to release the winged [[seed]]s.
@@ Line 185: / Line 157: @@
 * [http://www.pinetum.org/cones/ABIEScones.htm Arboretum de Villardebelle cone photos: Images of cones of selected species]
-[[Category:Pinaceae]]
+__NOTOC__

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:04, 27 June 2010
Line 1:		Line 1:
		+	{{SPlantbox
		+	\|familia=Pinaceae
		+	\|genus=Abies
		+	\|common_name=Fir
		+	\|life_ref=Flora - A Gardener's Encyclopedia
		+	\|features=evergreen
		+	\|Temp Metric=°F
		+	\|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
		+	\|image=Upload.png
		+	\|image_width=240
		+	}}
	__NOTOC__{{Plantbox		__NOTOC__{{Plantbox
	\| name = ''Abies''		\| name = ''Abies''

@@ Line 29: / Line 29: @@
 | cultivar =
 }}
 '''Firs''' (''Abies'') are a genus of between 45-55 species of [[evergreen]] [[Pinophyta|conifers]] in the family [[Pinaceae]]. All are [[tree]]s, and reach heights of 10-80 m (30-260 ft) tall with trunk diameters of 0.5-4 m (2-12 ft) when mature. Firs can be distinguished from other members of the pine family by their needle-like [[leaf|leaves]], attached to the twig by a base that resembles a small suction cup; and by erect, cylindrical [[Conifer cone|cones]] 5-25 cm (2-10 in) long that shatter at maturity to release the winged [[seed]]s.
@@ Line 51: / Line 46: @@
 Birds are attracted by fir seeds.
 ==Cultivation==
 Grow in fertile, well drained moist soil.  Full sun.  Soil should be neutral to slightly acidic.  Some wind shelter.  Most tolerate shade and do best where summers are cool.
 ===Propagation===
@@ Line 59: / Line 62: @@
 Sow seeds in container in a cold from when they are ripe, or in late winter.  Stratify for 3 weeks to aid in germination.  Graft cultivars in winter.
 ===Pests and diseases===
@@ Line 66: / Line 72: @@
 ==Species==
 * '''Section ''Balsamea''''' (Taiga|boreal Asia and North America, and high mountains further south)
 **''[[Fraser Fir|Abies fraseri]]'' - Fraser Fir, Southern Fir, Southern Balsam Fir.  [[Sunset zones]] 36, 37.  Native to higher, cooler elevations of the Appalachian Mountains.  Attractive pyramidal tree resembling ''A. balsamea'' in looks and in fragrance.  Popular choice of Christmas tree to grow in areas with not very hot summers.

@@ Line 147: / Line 147: @@
 * '''Section ''Bracteata''''' ([[California]] coast)
 **''[[Bristlecone Fir|Abies bracteata]]'' - Bristlecone Fir
 ==References==

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Taxobox
+__NOTOC__{{Plantbox
-| color = lightgreen
+| name = ''Abies''
-| name = ''Abies'' - firs
+| common_names = Firs
 | image = Abies koreana cone.jpg
-| image_width = 230px
+| image_width = 240px    <!--- leave as 240px if horizontal orientation photo, or change to 180px if vertical -->
 | image_caption = [[Korean Fir]] (''Abies koreana'') cone and foliage
-| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
+| regnum = Plantae
-| divisio = [[Pinophyta]]
+| divisio = Pinophyta
-| classis = [[Pinophyta|Pinopsida]]
+| classis = Pinopsida
-| ordo = [[Pinales]]
+| ordo = Pinales
-| familia = [[Pinaceae]]
+| familia = Pinaceae
-| genus = '''''Abies'''''
+| genus = Abies
-| genus_authority = [[Philip Miller|Mill.]]
+| species =
-| subdivision_ranks = Species
+| subspecies =
-| subdivision = See text
+| cultivar =
 }}
 [[Image:Abgragra-top.jpg|thumb|right|''Abies grandis'' foliage]]
 [[Image:Abies cone & bits.jpg|right|thumb|Intact and disintegrated Bulgarian Fir cones]]
@@ Line 22: / Line 37: @@
 [[Douglas-fir]]s are not true firs, being of the genus ''[[Pseudotsuga]]''.
 ==Species==
@@ Line 105: / Line 147: @@
 * '''Section ''Bracteata''''' ([[California]] coast)
 **''[[Bristlecone Fir|Abies bracteata]]'' - Bristlecone Fir
 ==References==
 *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432
 *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608
+*Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture
 ==External links==
 * [http://www.conifers.org/pi/ab/index.htm Gymnosperm Database - ''Abies'']
 * [http://www.pinetum.org/cones/ABIEScones.htm Arboretum de Villardebelle cone photos: Images of cones of selected species]
 [[Category:Pinaceae]]

@@ Line 50: / Line 50: @@
 * '''Section ''Abies''''' (central, south & east Europe, Asia Minor)
 **''[[Sicilian Fir|Abies nebrodensis]]'' - Sicilian Fir
-**''[[Silver Fir|Abies alba]]'' - Silver Fir
+**''[[Silver Fir|Abies alba]]'' - Silver Fir, European Silver fir (syn. A. pectinata).  Columnar tree having dark green leaves, the undersides of which are silver, up to 1 inch (2.5cm) long.  The leaves are in a v-shape arrangement on the shoots.  Cones are cylindrical and yellow-green, then turn brown as they ripen to 4-6 inches (10-15cm) with protruding bracts.
 **''[[Bulgarian Fir|Abies borisii-regis]]'' - Bulgarian Fir
 **''[[Greek Fir|Abies cephalonica]]'' - Greek Fir
@@ Line 107: / Line 107: @@
 ==Cultivation==
 ==Propagation==
 Cylindrical [[Conifer cone|cones]] 5-25 cm (2-10 in) long shatter at maturity to release the winged [[seed]]s, leaving a spiky stalk.
 ==Pests and diseases==
 Firs are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including ''[[Chionodes|Chionodes abella]]'' (recorded on [[White Fir]]), [[Autumnal Moth]], [[Korscheltellus|Conifer Swift]] (a pest of [[Balsam Fir]]), [[Engrailed|The Engrailed]], [[Grey Pug]], [[Mottled Umber]] and [[Pine Beauty]].
 ==Uses==
@@ Line 125: / Line 130: @@
 ==Taxonomy==
 They are most closely related to the [[cedar]]s (''Cedrus'').  Identification of the species is based on the size and arrangement of the leaves, the size and shape of the cones, and whether the bract scales of the cones are long and exserted, or short and hidden inside the cone.
 Firs are sometimes confused with Spruce due to similar appearance, but firs cones grow up instead of down, and they have softer needles that fall directly from the stems, while those of the spruce leave short pegs behind when the needles fall.  [[Douglas-fir]]s are not true firs, being of the genus ''[[Pseudotsuga]]''.
 ==Distribution and habitat==
-Firs are found through much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, occurring in [[mountain]]s over most of the range.
+Firs are found through much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, occurring in [[mountain]]s over most of the range, and often dominating the northern and mountainous regions.
 ==References==
 *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608

@@ Line 25: / Line 25: @@
 ==Species==
 * '''Section ''Balsamea''''' (Taiga|boreal Asia and North America, and high mountains further south)
-**''[[Fraser Fir|Abies fraseri]]'' - Fraser Fir
+**''[[Fraser Fir|Abies fraseri]]'' - Fraser Fir, Southern Fir, Southern Balsam Fir.  [[Sunset zones]] 36, 37.  Native to higher, cooler elevations of the Appalachian Mountains.  Attractive pyramidal tree resembling ''A. balsamea'' in looks and in fragrance.  Popular choice of Christmas tree to grow in areas with not very hot summers.
 **''[[Balsam Fir|Abies balsamea]]'' - Balsam Fir, [[Sunset zones]] 3-7, 15-17, 36-38, 42-44.  Native of NE US.  Pyramidal tree up to 50ft tall with dark green needles.  Doesn't thrive in hot-summer climates.  Has legendary fragrance, making it popular for wreaths and Christmas trees.  'Nana' is a dwarf variety good in rock gardens and containers.
 ***''Abies balsamea'' var. ''phanerolepis'' - Bracted Balsam Fir
 **''[[Subalpine Fir|Abies bifolia]]'' - Rocky Mountains Subalpine Fir
-**''[[Subalpine Fir|Abies lasiocarpa]]'' - Coast Range Subalpine Fir
+**''[[Subalpine Fir|Abies lasiocarpa]]'' - Coast Range Subalpine Fir, Alpine Fir, Rocky Mountain Fir.  Sunset zones 1-9, 14-17.  Native to high elevations in western US.  Grows into a narrow, 60-90 foot tall steeple shaped tree in the wild under good, moist soil.  In gardens it typically loses this narrow shape and height.  Bluish-green needles, 1 to 1.5 inches long.
 ***''Abies lasiocarpa'' var. ''arizonica'' - Corkbark Fir
 **''[[Siberian Fir|Abies sibirica]]'' - Siberian Fir
 **''[[Sakhalin Fir|Abies sachalinensis]]'' - Sakhalin Fir
-**''[[Korean Fir|Abies koreana]]'' - Korean Fir
+**''[[Korean Fir|Abies koreana]]'' - Korean Fir. Sunset zones 3-9, 14-24, 32, 34, 39.  Native to Korea.  Slow-growing and compact tree up to 30 feet in a pyramidal shape.  Green needles are shiny and short.  Young and small trees set cones.  'Aurea' variety is smaller, slower growing and has gold-green foliage.
 **''[[Khinghan Fir|Abies nephrolepis]]'' - Khinghan Fir
 **''[[Veitch's Fir|Abies veitchii]]'' - Veitch's Fir
@@ Line 53: / Line 53: @@
 **''[[Bulgarian Fir|Abies borisii-regis]]'' - Bulgarian Fir
 **''[[Greek Fir|Abies cephalonica]]'' - Greek Fir
-**''[[Nordmann Fir|Abies nordmanniana]]'' - Nordmann Fir or Caucasian Fir
+**''[[Nordmann Fir|Abies nordmanniana]]'' - Nordmann Fir or Caucasian Fir.  Sunset zones 3-11, 14-24, 32-37.  Native to [[Caucasus]], Asia Minor and Greece.  Vigorous, densely foliaged fir.  Under cultivation reaches 30-50 feet tall, 20 feet wide. Needles are dark green and shiny, .25 to 1.5 inches long, having whitish bands underneath, and densely covering the branches.  Does well in warm and dry summer western US and humid mid-Atlantic and southeastern states, but does best with regular water.  Can be kept long-term in containers.
 ***''Abies nordmanniana'' subsp. ''equi-trojani'' - Turkish Fir
 **''[[Cilician Fir|Abies cilicica]]'' - Cilician Fir
 * '''Section ''Piceaster''''' (southern Spain, northwest Africa)
-**''[[Spanish Fir|Abies pinsapo]]
+**''[[Spanish Fir|Abies pinsapo]]'' - Spanish Fir. Sunset zones 5-11, 14-24, 32, 33.  Native to Spain.  Does very well in both warm/dry regions and cool/moist.  Slow growth to 50 feet.  Sometimes mistaken for a spruce (due to dense, symmetric form).  Stiff needles are deep green and .5 to .75 inches long.  They are set uniformly around branches.  'Glauca' variety is blue gray.
 ***''Abies pinsapo'' var. ''marocana'' - Moroccan Fir
 **''[[Algerian Fir|Abies numidica]]'' - Algerian Fir
@@ Line 65: / Line 64: @@
 * '''Section ''Momi''''' (east & central Asia, Himalaya, generally at low to moderate altitudes)
 **''[[Taiwan Fir|Abies kawakamii]]'' - Taiwan Fir
-**''[[Nikko Fir|Abies homolepis]]'' - Nikko Fir
+**''[[Nikko Fir|Abies homolepis]]'' - Nikko Fir.  Sunset zones 32, 34, 36-38.  Native to Japan.  Broad, dense and formal fir up to 80 feet in height.  Densely arranged needles which point forward.  Well suited to warm and moist areas.
 **''[[Min Fir|Abies recurvata]]'' - Min Fir
 ***''Abies recurvata'' var. ''ernestii'' - Min Fir
@@ Line 100: / Line 99: @@
 * '''Section ''Nobilis''''' (western [[United States|USA]], high altitudes)
-**''[[Noble Fir|Abies procera]]'' - Noble Fir
+**''[[Noble Fir|Abies procera]]'' - Noble Fir. Sunset zones 3-5, 15-17, 36, 37.  This fir will grow slowly and satisfactorily in the Northeast, but does much better in the Northwest which it is native to (Northernmost California to Washington).  In gardens it grows over 100 feet tall into a narrow and graceful tree.  Inch-long needles are blue-green, branches are short and stiff, cones are 6-10 inches long and 3 inches wide, with extended bracts.
 **''[[Red Fir|Abies magnifica]]'' - Red Fir
 ***''Abies magnifica'' var. ''shastensis'' - Shasta Red Fir
@@ Line 133: / Line 132: @@
 ==References==
 *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608

@@ Line 19: / Line 19: @@
 [[Image:Abies_Orjen_foliage.jpg|thumb|right|''Abies alba'' foliage from Dinaric calcareous fir forests on Mt. Orjen]]
-'''Firs''' (''Abies'') are a genus of between 45-55 species of [[evergreen]] [[Pinophyta|conifers]] in the family [[Pinaceae]]. All are [[tree]]s, reaching heights of 10-80 m (30-260 ft) tall and trunk diameters of 0.5-4 m (2-12 ft) when mature. Firs can be distinguished from other members of the pine family by their needle-like [[leaf|leaves]], attached to the twig by a base that resembles a small suction cup; and by erect, cylindrical [[Conifer cone|cones]] 5-25 cm (2-10 in) long that disintegrate at maturity to release the winged [[seed]]s. Identification of the species is based on the size and arrangement of the leaves, the size and shape of the cones, and whether the bract scales of the cones are long and exserted, or short and hidden inside the cone.
+'''Firs''' (''Abies'') are a genus of between 45-55 species of [[evergreen]] [[Pinophyta|conifers]] in the family [[Pinaceae]]. All are [[tree]]s, and reach heights of 10-80 m (30-260 ft) tall with trunk diameters of 0.5-4 m (2-12 ft) when mature. Firs can be distinguished from other members of the pine family by their needle-like [[leaf|leaves]], attached to the twig by a base that resembles a small suction cup; and by erect, cylindrical [[Conifer cone|cones]] 5-25 cm (2-10 in) long that shatter at maturity to release the winged [[seed]]s.
 [[Douglas-fir]]s are not true firs, being of the genus ''[[Pseudotsuga]]''.
@@ Line 26: / Line 26: @@
 * '''Section ''Balsamea''''' (Taiga|boreal Asia and North America, and high mountains further south)
 **''[[Fraser Fir|Abies fraseri]]'' - Fraser Fir
-**''[[Balsam Fir|Abies balsamea]]'' - Balsam Fir
+**''[[Balsam Fir|Abies balsamea]]'' - Balsam Fir, [[Sunset zones]] 3-7, 15-17, 36-38, 42-44.  Native of NE US.  Pyramidal tree up to 50ft tall with dark green needles.  Doesn't thrive in hot-summer climates.  Has legendary fragrance, making it popular for wreaths and Christmas trees.  'Nana' is a dwarf variety good in rock gardens and containers.
 ***''Abies balsamea'' var. ''phanerolepis'' - Bracted Balsam Fir
 **''[[Subalpine Fir|Abies bifolia]]'' - Rocky Mountains Subalpine Fir
@@ Line 41: / Line 41: @@
 **''[[Grand Fir|Abies grandis]]'' - Grand Fir or Giant Fir
 ***''Abies grandis'' var. ''idahoensis'' - Interior Grand Fir or Giant Fir
-**''[[White Fir|Abies concolor]]'' - White Fir
+**''[[White Fir|Abies concolor]]'' - White Fir, Sunset zones 1-9, 14-24, 34-37, 39, 41.  Native to mountains of the West and Southwest, but can do well in Northwest and humid-summer parts of North and Northeast.  Also does well in lower Midwest and in some lower-elevation parts of interior West.  Reaches 50-70 feet in gardens.  Bluish-green needles which are 1-2 inches long.  'Candicans' is bluish white.
 ***''Abies concolor'' subsp. ''lowiana'' - Low's White Fir
 **''[[Durango Fir|Abies durangensis]]'' - Durango Fir
@@ Line 68: / Line 68: @@
 **''[[Min Fir|Abies recurvata]]'' - Min Fir
 ***''Abies recurvata'' var. ''ernestii'' - Min Fir
-**''[[Momi Fir|Abies firma]]'' - Momi Fir
+**''[[Momi Fir|Abies firma]]'' - Momi Fir, Japanese Fir.  Sunset zones 4-6, 17, 32, 34.  Native to Japan.  Broadly pyramidal, reaches 40-50 feet, branches are slightly above horizontal.  Dark green needles are lighter underneath.  Tolerates hot, moist climates.
 **''[[Baishanzu Fir|Abies beshanzuensis]]'' - Baishanzu Fir
 **''[[Manchurian Fir|Abies holophylla]]'' - Manchurian Fir
@@ Line 110: / Line 110: @@
 ==Propagation==
 ==Pests and diseases==
@@ Line 116: / Line 117: @@
 ==Uses==
 The [[wood]] of most firs is considered unsuitable for general timber use, and is often used as pulp or for the manufacture of [[plywood]] and rough timber. [[Nordmann Fir]], [[Noble Fir]], [[Fraser Fir]] and [[Balsam Fir]] are very popular [[Christmas tree]]s, generally considered to be the best trees for this purpose, with aromatic foliage that does not shed many needles on drying out. Many are also very decorative garden trees, notably [[Korean Fir]] and Fraser Fir, which produce brightly coloured cones even when very young, still only 1-2 m (3-6 ft) tall.
 ==History==
 ==Taxonomy==
-They are most closely related to the [[cedar]]s (''Cedrus'').
+They are most closely related to the [[cedar]]s (''Cedrus'').  Identification of the species is based on the size and arrangement of the leaves, the size and shape of the cones, and whether the bract scales of the cones are long and exserted, or short and hidden inside the cone.
-[[Douglas-fir]]s are not true firs, being of the genus ''[[Pseudotsuga]]''.
+Firs are sometimes confused with Spruce due to similar appearance, but firs cones grow up instead of down, and they have softer needles that fall directly from the stems, while those of the spruce leave short pegs behind when the needles fall.  [[Douglas-fir]]s are not true firs, being of the genus ''[[Pseudotsuga]]''.
 ==Distribution and habitat==