PINACEAE 



California Red Fir 

 Abies magnifica A. Murr. 



HABIT. The largest of the firs, varying from 150-180 feet 

 in height and 4-5 feet in diameter (max. 230 by 10 feet); crown 

 narrow but round-topped; bole clear for much of its height, 

 then with short, small branches. 



LEAVES. On lower branches %-lV^ inches long, somewhat 

 flattened, rounded apex, and somewhat two-ranked; on upper, 

 fertile branches almost equally 4-sided, erect, crowded, and 

 with short callous tips; glaucous during first year, becoming 

 blue-green; stomatiferous on all sides. 



FLOWERS. Male red-purple; female with green bracts 

 much longer than rounded scales. 



FRUIT. 6-9 inches long; cylindrical to barrel-shaped; dark 

 purplish brown; scales longer than broad and longer than the 

 spiny-tipped, inserted bracts. Seed: i/2~/4 inch long, dark brown, 

 with large, broad, rose-colored wings. 



TWIG. Stout; yellow-green and slightly rusty-pubescent the 

 first year, becoming smooth and light red-brown. Winter buds: 

 ovoid, 1/4 inch long, slightly resinous at the tip, dark brown. 



BARK. Distinctly reddish colored, thick (4-6 inches), and 

 furrowed on old trunks; smooth and chalky gray on young 

 trunks. 



WOOD. Similar to and substituted for Noble fir; light and 

 soft; used for lumber. 



SILVICAL CHARACTERS. Moderately intolerant at ma- 

 turity; growth rather slow, with maturity being reached in about 

 300 years; reproduction abundant on moist mineral soil; deep, 

 spreading roots. 



HABITAT. Transition zone to timber line in some places; 

 altitudinal range from 5,000-10,000 feet; in pure stands or 

 mixed with Douglas-fir, sugar and ponderosa pine, and numerous 

 other species. 



GENERAL. A distinctive variety, the Shasta red fir, Abies 

 magnifica var. shastensis Lemm., is occasionally found through- 

 out the range of the species. It is characterized by cone bracts 

 which are exserted and strongly reflexed and by winter buds 

 almost free of resin. 



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