26 MISC. PUBLICATION 303, U. 8. 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 22-42 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. 
Stomach 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 
