36 MISC. PUBLICATION 303, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 



Abies concolor Lindl. and Gord. White fir. 



A. lowiana (Gord.) Murr., A concolor lowiana Lemm. 

 Range : 4, 5, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14. 

 Site: Well-drained, sun, shade. 

 Fruit: Cone; mature in September, soon breaks up. 



A very large evergreen tree with a shallow root system ; at first rapid grow- 

 ing; later slower; long-lived; resistant to fire, heat, and drought; wood used 

 commercially ; good seed years every 2 to 4 years, seed vitality transient ; 

 10,000-15,000 seeds per pound, germination 22-^2 percent; five varieties dis- 

 tinguished in cultivation. 



Stomach records: Mount Pinos grouse; Inyo chipmunk, black-tailed deer. 

 Observations: Sooty grouse ; porcupine ; of outstanding importance for mule 

 deer, California pine squirrel; much eaten by squirrels and other rodents. 



Abies fraseri (Pursh.) Poir. Southern balsam fir. 



Range: 27. 



Site: Well-drained, moist, sun. 

 Fruit : Cone ; mature in September, soons breaks up. 



A large evergreen tree, growth rate at first rapid, later slower ; wood some- 

 what used for pulp, rarely lumber ; seed produced annually but heavy crops 

 only at long intervals ; short-lived both in the wild and in cultivation ; 44,000 

 seeds per pound, germination about 68 percent. 



Abies grandis Lindl. lowland white fir. 



A. aromatica Raf. 



Range : 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 12. 

 Site: Well-drained, sun. 



Fruit: Cone; mature September-October, soon breaks up. 

 A very large evergreen tree with a deep root system ; rapid growing at first, 

 later slower; long-lived; intolerant of shade; wood of little importance com- 

 mercially, potentially of greater value ; ornamental ; seed produced abundantly 

 every 2 or 3 years ; 20,000-34,000 seeds per pound, germination about 50 

 percent. 



Slomach records: Plains white-tailed deer. Observations: Richardson's pine 

 squirrel. 



Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt. Alpine fir. 



Pinus lasiocarpa Hook. 



Range : 4, 9 (at higher elevations only ) , 12, 13, 14. 

 Site: Dry, well-drained, sun. 

 Fruit : Cone, mature in September. 



A very large evergreen tree ; slow growing, moderately long-lived ; wood 

 little used commercially ; lower branches may root, but new trees seldom 

 develop from them ; not successfully cultivated in the Eastern States ; seed pro- 

 duced abundantly every 3 years ; seed vitality transient ; 50,000 seeds per 

 pound, germination 24 percent; about 5,000 usable plants per pound of seed. 

 Stomach records: Three species of birds, including Richardson's grouse; 

 mountain sheep, black-tailed deer. Observations: Cascade pine squirrel. 



Abies lowiana, see Abies concolor. 



Abies magnifica Murr. California red fir. 



Range: 4. 



Site : Well-drained, sun. 



Fruit : Cone ; mature in August, breaks up in September. 

 A very large evergreen tree; slow growing, especially with age; long-lived; 

 intolerant of shade, but more resistant with age; ornamental; wood little used 

 commercially, potentially of greater use ; good seed crops produced every 2 or 3 

 years ; seed vitality transient ; 67,000 seeds per pound. 



Observations: Sooty grouse, California pine grosbeak; of slight importance 

 for mule deer. 



Var. shastensis Lemmon, Shasta red fir; very similar to the species and oc- 

 curring within its range, but less common. 



Abies nobilis Lindl. Noble fir. 



Range : 1, 4. 



Site: Well-drained, sun. 



Fruit : Cone ; ripe in September, begins to break up by October. 

 A very large evergreen tree with a shallow or deep root system ; long-lived, 

 fairly rapid growing; intolerant of shade; easily fire-damaged because of its 



