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BALSAM FIR. 



Abies balsamea, (Linnaeus) Miller. 



GENUS DESCRIPTION The Firs comprise about 25 species, of which number 10 species are 

 native to North America and 1 to Pennsylvania. They are usually found in cold and temperate 

 regions. Eight species are found in western North America, while only 2 species are native east 

 of the foot hills of the Rocky Mountains, 1 of which is native to Pennsylvania. The other 

 eastern species not native to Pennsylvania, Abies Fraseri (Pursh.) Poir, is found only in the 

 Appalachian Mountains from Virginia to North Carolina and Tennessee. 



FORM A medium-sized tree attaining a height of 30-50 ft., but may reach a height of 100 

 ft. with a diameter of 3 ft. Usually a low spreading shrub in high altitudes and high latitudes. 

 Crown slender, symmetrical when young, and sharp-pointed, deeper and often broader in older 

 specimens. 



BARK On old trees reddish-brown and somewhat roughened by irregular scales. On young 

 trees smooth, thin, close, grayish-brown, and marked by projecting resin blisters. See Fig. 50. 



TWIGS Slender, at first hairy and yellowish-green, later smooth, and grayish-brown, usually 

 arranged opposite one another. 



BUDS Clustered at end of terminal twigs, ovate to spherical, about 1/6 of an inch long, 

 covered with very glossy, varnished, orange-green scales. 



LEAVES Apparently 2-ranked as in the Hemlock, linear, flattened, I of an inch long, usually 

 blunt at apex, stalkless, dark green and shining above, pale with light dots below, very fragrant 

 upon drying. 



FLOWERS Appear about May or June. Staminate and pistillate flowers separate but usually 

 found on different parts of same branch. Staminate cylindrical, yellow, \ of an inch long. Pis- 

 tillate oblong-cylindrical, purple, 1 inch long. 



FRUIT An erect, oblong-cylindrical, dark purple cone, 2-4 inches long, with broad round 

 deciduous scales which fall off and leave the bare central axis. Cones mature at the end of first 

 season. Seeds about 1 of an inch long, winged, and borne on cone : scales. 



WOOD Non-porous; without resin passages; with no distinct heartwood, light, soft, pale 

 brown, not strong noi- durable. Weighs 23.80 Ibs. per cubic foot. Used with Spruce for paper 

 pulp, crates, packing boxes, and occassionally for lumber. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS The Balsam Fir, also known as Fir, Balsam, and 

 Blister Pine, is distinguished from the other native conifers of Pennsylvania by its smooth gray- 

 ish-brown bark covered with projecting blisters, its oblong-cylindrical erect cones with deciduous 

 scales, and by its rather flattened, apparently 2-ranked leaves which are stalkless and leave a 

 circular flat scar upon falling. The leaves of the Balsam Fir somewhat resemble those of the 

 Hemlock, but they are not jointed to a woody stalk while those of the latter species are jointed 

 to short persistent stalks known as sterigmata. 



RANGE Labrador west to Alberta, south to Pennsylvania and Minnesota and along the moun- 

 tains to Virginia. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA Confined almost entirely to the swamps and lake re- 

 gions of Centre, Pike, Monroe, Lycoming, Tioga, and Sullivan counties. It is also reported 

 from a few other local outposts. 



HABITAT Usually inhabits swamps or their borders. In the north found commonly in low 

 swampy bogs but in the south usually found on the mountain tops and slopes. Generally occurs 

 in mixture but may occur locally in almost pure stands. Spruce and Hemlock are its common 

 associates. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES This tree is of little commercial importance in this State 

 on account of its limited distribution and the small size which it attains. It is difficult to re- 

 generate artificially since the seeds have a low germinating percentage, and the subsequent estab- 

 lishment is also difficult. This species should be regenerated naturally upon such areas where other 

 more valuable species will not grow. The Balsam Fir is commonly used as a Christmas tree and 

 it is possible that in the future it may pay to raise it for this purpose. 



