Difference between revisions of "Fir"

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[[Image:Abies_Orjen_foliage.jpg|thumb|right|''Abies alba'' foliage from Dinaric calcareous fir forests on Mt. Orjen]]
 
[[Image:Abies_Orjen_foliage.jpg|thumb|right|''Abies alba'' foliage from Dinaric calcareous fir forests on Mt. Orjen]]
  
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'''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. They are most closely related to the [[cedar]]s (''Cedrus''). Firs are found through much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, occurring in [[mountain]]s over most of the range.
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'''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.  
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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]].
 
  
 
[[Douglas-fir]]s are not true firs, being of the genus ''[[Pseudotsuga]]''.
 
[[Douglas-fir]]s are not true firs, being of the genus ''[[Pseudotsuga]]''.
  
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==Classification==
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==Species==
 
* '''Section ''Balsamea''''' (Taiga|boreal Asia and North America, and high mountains further south)
 
* '''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
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* '''Section ''Bracteata''''' ([[California]] coast)
 
* '''Section ''Bracteata''''' ([[California]] coast)
 
**''[[Bristlecone Fir|Abies bracteata]]'' - Bristlecone Fir
 
**''[[Bristlecone Fir|Abies bracteata]]'' - Bristlecone Fir
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==Cultivation==
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==Propagation==
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==Pests and diseases==
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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==
 
==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.
 
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.
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==History==
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==Taxonomy==
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They are most closely related to the [[cedar]]s (''Cedrus'').
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[[Douglas-fir]]s are not true firs, being of the genus ''[[Pseudotsuga]]''.
 +
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==Distribution and habitat==
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Firs are found through much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, occurring in [[mountain]]s over most of the range.
 +
 +
==References==
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*Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881926248
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*American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432
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*Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608
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==See also==
  
 
==External links==
 
==External links==
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{{commonscat|Abies}}
 
 
* [http://www.conifers.org/pi/ab/index.htm Gymnosperm Database - ''Abies'']
 
* [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]
 
* [http://www.pinetum.org/cones/ABIEScones.htm Arboretum de Villardebelle cone photos: Images of cones of selected species]

Revision as of 19:34, 2 September 2008

Abies - firs
Korean Fir (Abies koreana) cone and foliage
Korean Fir (Abies koreana) cone and foliage
Plant Info
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Family: Pinaceae
Genus: Abies
Mill.

Species
See text
Abies grandis foliage
Intact and disintegrated Bulgarian Fir cones
Abies alba foliage from Dinaric calcareous fir forests on Mt. Orjen

Firs (Abies) are a genus of between 45-55 species of evergreen conifers in the family Pinaceae. All are trees, 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 leaves, attached to the twig by a base that resembles a small suction cup; and by erect, cylindrical cones 5-25 cm (2-10 in) long that disintegrate at maturity to release the winged seeds. 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-firs are not true firs, being of the genus Pseudotsuga.

Species

  • Section Grandis (western North America to Mexico and Guatemala, lowlands in north, moderate altitudes in south)
  • Section Piceaster (southern Spain, northwest Africa)

- Spanish Fir

      • Abies pinsapo var. marocana - Moroccan Fir
    • Abies numidica - Algerian Fir
  • Section Amabilis (Pacific coast mountains, North America and Japan, in high rainfall mountains)

Cultivation

Propagation

Pests and diseases

Firs are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Chionodes abella (recorded on White Fir), Autumnal Moth, Conifer Swift (a pest of Balsam Fir), The Engrailed, Grey Pug, Mottled Umber and Pine Beauty.

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 trees, 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 cedars (Cedrus).

Douglas-firs 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 mountains over most of the range.

References

  • Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881926248
  • 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

See also

External links

Template:Pinaceae

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