Introduction
Firs are trees of the Family Pinaceae and belong to the genus Abies. Firs can be distinguished from other members of the pine family by the fact that their leaves are attatched to the twig by a base that resembles a small suction cup, and by erect cylindrical cones that disintegrate at maturity. They are most closely related to the cedars (Cedrus). Firs are found throughout most of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa.
Classification
- Section Balsamea (boreal Asia and North America, and high mountains further south)
- Abies fraseri - Fraser fir
- Abies balsamea - Balsam fir
- Abies bifolia - Rocky Mountains subalpine fir
- Abies lasiocarpa - Coast Range subalpine fir
- Abies sibirica - Siberian fir
- Abies sachalinensis - Sakhalin fir
- Abies koreana - Korean fir
- Abies nephrolepis - Khinghan fir
- Abies veitchii - Veitch's fir
- Abies kawakamii - Taiwan fir
- Section Grandis (western North America to Mexico and Guatemala, lowlands in north, moderate altitudes in south)
- Abies grandis - Grand fir or Giant fir
- Abies lowiana - Low's fir
- Abies concolor - White fir
- Abies durangensis - Durango fir
- Abies mexicana - Mexican fir
- Abies flinckii - Jalisco fir
- Abies guatemalensis - Guatemalan fir
- Section Abies (central, south & east Europe, Asia Minor)
- Abies nebrodensis - Sicilian fir
- Abies alba - European silver fir
- Abies borisiiregis - Bulgarian fir
- Abies cephalonica - Greek fir
- Abies nordmanniana - Nordmann fir or Caucasian fir
- Abies cilicica - Cilicican fir
- Section Piceaster (southern Spain, northwest Africa)
- Abies pinsapo - Spanish fir
- Abies numidica - Algerian fir
- Section Momi (east & central Asia, Himalaya, generally at low to moderate altitudes)
- Abies homolepis - Nikko fir
- Abies recurvata - Min fir
- Abies firma - Momi fir
- Abies beshanzuensis - Baishanzu fir
- Abies holophylla - Manchurian fir
- Abies chensiensis - Shensi fir
- Abies pindrow - Pindrow fir
- Abies ziyuanensis - Ziyuan fir
- Section Amabilis (Pacific coast mountains, North America and Japan, in high rainfall mountains)
- Abies amabilis - Pacific silver fir
- Abies mariesii - Maries' fir
- Section Pseudopicea (Sino-Himalayan mountains, at high altitude)
- Abies delavayi - Delavay's fir
- Abies fabri - Faber's fir
- Abies forrestii - Forrest's fir
- Abies chengii - Cheng's fir
- Abies densa - Bhutan fir
- Abies spectabilis - East Himalayan fir
- Abies fargesii - Farges' fir
- Abies fanjingshanensis - Fanjingshan fir
- Abies yuanbaoshanensis - Yuanbaoshan fir
- Abies squamata - Flaky fir
- Section Oiamel (Mexico, high altitudes in mountains)
- Abies religiosa - Sacred fir
- Abies vejarii - Vejar's fir
- Abies hickelii - Hickel's fir
- Section Nobilis (western USA, high altitudes)
- Abies procera - Noble fir
- Abies magnifica - Red fir
- Section Bracteata (California)
- Abies bracteata - Bristlecone fir
Uses
The wood of most firs is considered inferior, and is often used as pulp or for the manufacture of plywood and rough lumber. Nordmann fir, Noble fir, Fraser fir and Balsam fir are popular Christmas trees. Many are also very decorative garden trees.
External links
Links to other Pinaceae
Pinus - Picea - Cathaya - Larix - Pseudotsuga - Abies - Cedrus - Keteleeria - Pseudolarix - Nothotsuga - Tsuga
