Abies magnifica

Abies magnifica

Taxobox
name = Red Fir
status = LR/lc | status_system = IUCN2.3


image_width = 240px
image_caption = Red Fir forest, Yosemite National Park
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Pinophyta
classis = Pinopsida
ordo = Pinales
familia = Pinaceae
genus = "Abies"
species = "A. magnifica"
binomial = "Abies magnifica"
binomial_authority = A.Murray

The Red Fir ("Abies magnifica") is a western North American fir, native to the mountains of southwest Oregon and California in the United States. It is a large evergreen tree typically up to 40-60 m tall and 2 m trunk diameter, rarely to 76 m tall and 3 m diameter, with a narrow conic crown. The bark on young trees is smooth, grey, and with resin blisters, becoming orange-red, rough and fissured on old trees. The leaves are needle-like, 2-3.5 cm 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, 9-21 cm long, yellow-green (occasionally purple), ripening brown and disintegrating to release the winged seeds in fall.

It is a high altitude tree, typically occurring at 1,400-2,700 m altitude, though only rarely reaching tree line. The name Red Fir derives from the bark color of old trees.

There are two, perhaps three varieties:
*"Abies magnifica" var. "magnifica" (Red Fir) - cones large (14-21 cm), cone bract scales short, not visible on the closed cones. Most of the species' range, primarily in the Sierra Nevada.
*"Abies magnifica" var. "shastensis" (Shasta Red Fir) - cones large (14-21 cm), cone bract scales longer, visible on the closed cone. The northwest of the species' range, in southwest Oregon and Shasta, Siskiyou and Trinity Counties in northwest California.
*Trees on the eastern side of the southern Sierra Nevada also have long bracts, and additionally have smaller cones, 9-15 cm long. These trees, possibly a third variety, have not been formally named.

Red Fir is very closely related to Noble Fir ("Abies procera"), 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. Some botanists treat "Abies magnifica" var. "shastensis" as a natural hybrid between Red Fir and Noble Fir. r

Uses

The wood is used for general structural purposes and paper manufacture. It is also a popular christmas tree.

References

*

External links

* [http://www.conifers.org/pi/ab/magnifica.htm Gymnosperm Database - "Abies magnifica"]
* [http://www.pinetum.org/PhotoJEFFshastensis.htm Arboretum de Villardebelle - photos]
* [http://www.pinetum.org/PhotoJEFFshastensis2.htm Arboretum de Villardebelle - more photos]


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  • Abies magnifica — Red Red, a. [Compar. {Redder} ( d?r); superl. {Reddest}.] [OE. red, reed, AS. re[ a]d, re[ o]d; akin to OS. r[=o]d, OFries. r[=a]d, D. rood, G. roht, rot, OHG. r[=o]t, Dan. & Sw. r[ o]d, Icel. rau[eth]r, rj[=o][eth]r, Goth. r[ a]uds, W. rhudd,… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Abies magnifica — puikusis kėnis statusas T sritis vardynas atitikmenys: lot. Abies magnifica angl. Californian red fir; golden fir vok. prachtige Tanne; Pracht Tanne rus. пихта великолепная; пихта красивая lenk. jodła wspaniała ryšiai: žiūrėk – didingasis kėnis …   Dekoratyvinių augalų vardynas

  • Abies magnifica — ID 38 Symbol Key ABMA Common Name California red fir Family Pinaceae Category Gymnosperm Division Coniferophyta US Nativity Native to U.S. US/NA Plant Yes State Distribution CA, NV, NY, OR Growth Habit Tree Duratio …   USDA Plant Characteristics

  • Abies magnifica — …   Википедия

  • Abies magnifica — Rød ædelgran …   Danske encyklopædi

  • Abies magnifica A. Murray var. magnifica — Symbol ABMA Synonym Symbol ABMAM Botanical Family Pinaceae …   Scientific plant list

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