Changes

[[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]]

'''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]]''.

[[Douglas-fir]]s are not true firs, being of the genus ''[[Pseudotsuga]]''.

* '''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

**''[[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

***''Abies balsamea'' var. ''phanerolepis'' - Bracted Balsam Fir

**''[[Subalpine Fir|Abies bifolia]]'' - Rocky Mountains Subalpine Fir

**''[[Subalpine Fir|Abies bifolia]]'' - Rocky Mountains Subalpine Fir

**''[[Grand Fir|Abies grandis]]'' - Grand Fir or Giant Fir

**''[[Grand Fir|Abies grandis]]'' - Grand Fir or Giant Fir

***''Abies grandis'' var. ''idahoensis'' - Interior 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

***''Abies concolor'' subsp. ''lowiana'' - Low's White Fir

**''[[Durango Fir|Abies durangensis]]'' - Durango Fir

**''[[Durango Fir|Abies durangensis]]'' - Durango Fir

**''[[Min Fir|Abies recurvata]]'' - Min Fir

**''[[Min Fir|Abies recurvata]]'' - Min Fir

***''Abies recurvata'' var. ''ernestii'' - 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

**''[[Baishanzu Fir|Abies beshanzuensis]]'' - Baishanzu Fir

**''[[Manchurian Fir|Abies holophylla]]'' - Manchurian Fir

**''[[Manchurian Fir|Abies holophylla]]'' - Manchurian Fir

==Propagation==

==Propagation==

==Pests and diseases==

==Pests and diseases==

==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.

==History==

==History==

==Taxonomy==

==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==

==Distribution and habitat==