Abies magnifica
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| Red fir forest, Giant Sequoia National Monument | |
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| Scientific classification Edit this classification | |
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| Natural range of Abies magnifica | |
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Abies magnifica, the red fir or silvertip fir, is a western North American fir, native to the mountains of southwest Oregon and California in the United States. It is a high-elevation tree, typically occurring at 1,400–2,700 metres (4,600–8,900 ft) elevation, though only rarely reaching tree line. The name red fir derives from the bark color of old trees.
Description
Abies magnifica is a large evergreen tree typically up to 40–60 metres (130–200 ft) tall and 2 m (6 ft 7 in) trunk diameter, rarely to 76.5 m (251 ft) tall and 3 m (9 ft 10 in) diameter, with a narrow conic crown. The bark on young trees is smooth, grey, and has resin blisters, becoming orange-red, rough and fissured on old trees. The leaves are needle-like, Page Template:Fraction/styles.css has no content.2–3.5 centimetres (3⁄4–1+1⁄2 in) long, glaucous blue-green above and below with strong stomatal bands, and an acute tip. They are arranged spirally on the shoot, but twisted slightly S-shaped to be upcurved above the shoot.
The cones are erect, Page Template:Fraction/styles.css has no content.9–21 cm (3+1⁄2–8+1⁄4 in) long, yellow-green (occasionally purple), ripening brown and disintegrating to release the winged seeds in fall.
Varieties
There are three varieties:[2]
| Image | Scientific name | Description | Distribution |
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| File:Abies magnifica Tahoe1.jpg | Abies magnifica var. magnifica, red fir | cones Page Template:Fraction/styles.css has no content.14–21 cm (5+1⁄2–8+1⁄4 in) long, bract scales short, not visible on the closed cones. | Range, primarily in the Sierra Nevada. |
| File:Abies magnifica 8016t.jpg | Abies magnifica var. shastensis Template:Au, Shasta red fir | cones Page Template:Fraction/styles.css has no content.14–21 cm (5+1⁄2–8+1⁄4 in) long, bract scales longer, visible on the closed cone; bark 10–15 cm (4–6 in) thick. | The northwest of the species' range, in southwest Oregon and Shasta, Siskiyou[3] and Trinity Counties in northwest California. |
| Abies magnifica var. critchfieldii Template:Au | Also having long bracts, and additionally have smaller cones, Page Template:Fraction/styles.css has no content.9–15 cm (3+1⁄2–6 in) long. | the eastern slopes of southern Sierra Nevada |
Related
Red fir is very closely related to Abies procera (noble fir), which replaces it further north in the Cascade Range. They are best distinguished by the leaves; noble fir leaves have a groove along the midrib on the upper side, while red fir does not show this. Red fir also tends to have the leaves less closely packed, with the shoot bark visible between the leaves, whereas the shoot is largely hidden in noble fir. Shasta red fir hybridizes with noble fir, with which it is both chemically and microscopically similar;[3] some botanists treat the former as a natural hybrid between red and noble fir.
First recording
This tree was first recorded by William Lobb on his expedition to California of 1849–1853, having been overlooked previously by David Douglas.[4]
Uses
The wood is used for general structural purposes and paper manufacture. It is also a popular Christmas tree, with a 53-foot red fir from the Humboldt–Toiyabe National Forest being used as the 2025 Capitol Christmas Tree.[5]
Paiute peoples used the foliage of Shasta red fir (or perhaps noble fir) to treat coughs and colds.[3]
See also
References
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- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."Abies magnifica A.Murray bis". Plants of the World Online. 2012-08-01. Retrieved 2024-08-18.
- ^ a b c Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Arno, Stephen F.; Hammerly, Ramona P. (2020) [1977]. Northwest Trees: Identifying & Understanding the Region's Native Trees (field guide ed.). Seattle: Mountaineers Books. pp. 143–149. ISBN 978-1-68051-329-5. OCLC 1141235469.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Toby Musgrave; Chris Gardner & Will Musgrave (1999). The Plant Hunters. Seven Dials. p. 147. ISBN 1-84188-001-9.
- ^ Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content."MSN". www.msn.com. Retrieved 2025-12-02.
Further reading
- Page Module:Citation/CS1/styles.css has no content.Chase, J. Smeaton (1911). "Abies magnifica (Red-fir, Balsam-fir, Magnificent Silver-fir)". Cone-bearing Trees of the California Mountains. Eytel, Carl (illustrations). Chicago: A.C. McClurg & Co. pp. 72–74. LCCN 11004975. OCLC 3477527.
External links
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- USDA Forest Service: Abies magnifica
- CalFlora Database: Abies magnifica
- Gymnosperm Database – Abies magnifica
- Arboretum de Villardebelle: Abies magnifica Photos – group 1
- Arboretum de Villardebelle: Abies magnifica Photos – group 2
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