PINACEAE 
Balsam Fir 
Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. 
HABIT.—A slender tree 40-6o feet high, with a. trunk 
diameter of 12-18 inches; branches in whorls of 4-6, forming a 
symmetrical, open crown widest at the base and tapering regularly 
upward, 
LEAVES.—Scattered, spirally arranged in rows, on young 
trees extending from all sides of the branch, on old trees cover- 
ing the upper side of the branch; narrowly linear, with apex 
acute or rounded; 14-114 inches long; lusfrous, dark green above, 
pale beneath; sessile; aromatic. Persistent 8-10 years. 
FLOWERS.—May; monoecious; the staminate oblong- 
cylindrical, yellow, %4 inch long, composed of yellow anthers 
(subtended by scales) spirally arranged upon a central axis; the 
pistillate oblong-cylindrical, 1 inch long, composed of orbicular, 
purple scales (subtended by yellow-green bracts) spirally ar- 
ranged upon a central axis. 
FRUIT—Autumn of first season; oblong-cylindrical, erect, 
puberulous, dark purple cones, 2-4 inches long, about 1 inch thick; 
seeds 14 inch long, shorter than their light brown wings. 
WINTER-BUDS.—Globose, orange-green, resinous, %-%4 
inch in diameter. 
BARK.—Twigs at first grayish and pubescent, becoming 
gray-brown and smooth; thin and smooth on young trunks, pale 
gray-brown and marked by swollen resin chambers; red-brown 
on old trunks and somewhat roughened by small, scaly plates. 
WoOOD.—Very light, soft, weak, coarse-grained, perishable, 
pale brown, with thick, lighter colored sapwood. 
DISTRIBUTION.—Occasional in the southern half of the 
Lower Peninsula, frequent in the northern half; abundant in the 
Upper Peninsula. 
HABITAT.—Prefers cool, moist, rich soil; low, swampy 
ground; well-drained hillsides. 
NOTES.—Grows rapidly. Short-lived. Easily transplanted. 
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