Handbook of Teeks 



OF 



THE jSToirnTETix States and Canada 



'J'he Eraser Fir is a. tree of modiiini m/./ 

 iiMiallv ;!()-.">(► Fl. in lici^iil, cir sonn'l i ttics li) 

 ft.. Willi iniiik I-i^ij I'l. in diamctrr. W li<-n 

 sullioiently isolated it. (le\oio[»s a distinct 

 pyramidal top witli whorls of hniij; lioi-izoatil 

 lower branches, those above sueeessively sliorter 

 to the |)ointi'd aprx. The hark of the y<nni<;:'r 

 trunks is fn|iii)iis! y rcsin-hlistrred, tliat. of 

 older trunks becoming ei.ivered with thin yrd- 

 lowish ii:vay ])apery scales, ipiite (.tiU'erent from 

 that of the Balsam Vir. One of the most re- 

 stricted trees of eastern United Stales in ili-^- 

 trihution it is found only at altitudes of froa 

 4000 to 6000 ft. on the hi-xhest peaks of t^ie 

 Allegheny Mountains, clothing their dry sum 

 niits eitlier Avitli exclusive groves or in com- 

 jiaiiy with the Red Spruce (called lo-ally i)y 

 the mountaineers " lie BaJsau) " in distinction 

 from this the " iSV^r B(fl'^aiii ") Mountain Ash, 

 Yellow Birch, etc. This recpiirement in the 

 Frasor Fir for dry localities is strangely dif- 

 ferent from the hi\T' of tlie Northern Balsam 

 Fir for wet Inw-lands. 



Its wood is light, a cu. ft. weighing 22.2'2 

 Ihs. and srcuis ti> he liut little used, y>erhaps 

 due to inaccessibility though a]i])licable to tlie 

 uses mentioned of the other species. Its 

 branches are jMipular for use in making balsam 

 pillows. 1 



Lrovcs flat. Vj-I in. Inni:, thrise of (he sferiln 

 branches emarginatc and (li<ise ef the fertile acnle 

 at apex, dark ^reen and centrnll.v .i^roovcd above, 

 silvi-ry white beneath with 8-11-' mws of storaala. 

 FJrnrcrs in May: staminate rcddisli yellow; pis- 

 tillate with scales much broader than b)Ti,u; and 

 shorter than the exserted jiale yel]f)w-i,^reen bracts. 

 Conrs mnturo in Septenilter. ovoid-oliloriff, 2-2'i4 in. 

 lonu'. dnrl; purple witli seales vji],.!- than Ions; and 

 with Ions exserted pale y-llow-ijireen roflexed 

 bracts, aristate at ai>ex : seeds aliont: Vs ia. Iohl; 

 with very wide win.L; olilicjiie at a|)ex. 



1. A. W., XI I, 300. 



