balsam fir

Balsam fir
Tree with cones
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 2.3)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Pinophyta
Class:	Pinopsida
Order:	Pinales
Family:	Pinaceae
Genus:	Abies
Species:	A. balsamea
Binomial name
Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.
Range

The balsam fir (Abies balsamea) is a North American fir, native to most of eastern and central Canada (Newfoundland west to central Alberta) and the northeastern United States (Minnesota east to Maine, and south in the Appalachian Mountains to West Virginia).^[1]

Varieties

There are two varieties:

• Abies balsamea var. balsamea (balsam fir) - bracts subtending cone/seed scales short, not visible on the closed cones. Most of the species' range.
• Abies balsamea var. phanerolepis (bracted balsam fir or Canaan fir) - bracts subtending cone/seed scales longer, visible on the closed cone. The southeast of the species' range, from southernmost Quebec to West Virginia. The name 'Canaan Fir' derives from one of its native localities, the Canaan Valley in West Virginia. Some botanists regard this variety as a natural hybrid between balsam fir and Fraser fir (Abies fraseri), which occurs further south in the Appalachian mountains.

Ecology

On mountain tops, stands of balsam fir occasionally develop fir waves. Often found in association with black spruce, white spruce and trembling aspen.

This tree provides food for moose, American red squirrels, crossbills and chickadees, as well as shelter for moose, snowshoe hares, white-tailed deer, ruffed grouse and other small mammals and songbirds. The needles are eaten by some lepidopteran caterpillars, for example the Io moth (Automeris io).

Uses

The resin is used to produce Canada balsam, and was traditionally used as a cold remedy and as a glue; for glasses, optical instrument components, and for preparing permanent mounts of microscope specimens. The wood is used for paper manufacture and is also a popular Christmas tree.

Balsam fir oil is an EPA approved non-toxic rodent repellent.^[2]

Tree emblem

The balsam fir is the Provincial tree of New Brunswick.

References

1. ^ "PLANTS Profile for Abies balsamea (balsam fir)". http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ABBA. Retrieved 2007-07-17. 
2. ^ http://www.epa.gov/opp00001/biopesticides/ingredients/factsheets/factsheet_129035.htm

• Conifer Specialist Group (1998). Abies balsamea. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 12 May 2006.
• Gymnosperm Database: Abies balsamea
• Flora of North America
• Karen Legasy, Shayna LaBelle-Beadman & Brenda Chambers. Forest Plants of Northeastern Ontario. Lone Pine Publishing / Queen's Printer for Ontario, 1995.

External links

• Winter ID pictures
• Compiled images

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Abies balsamea