Abies balsamea (Balsam Fir)

Abies balsamea

Balsam Fir

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Coniferophyta	Conifers—cone-bearing trees (and a few shrubs)
Class	Pinopsida	Gymnosperms such as cedars, Douglas-firs, cypresses, firs, junipers, kauri, larches, pines, hemlocks, redwoods, spruces, and yews
Order	Pinales	Cone-bearing plants: cedar, cypress, fir, juniper, larch, pine, redwood, spruce, yew, and others
Family	Pinaceae	Pine family: cedars, firs, hemlocks, larches, pines and spruces
Genus	Abies	Firs
Species	balsamea	Contains a resin called Canada balsam

About plant names...

Balsam fir is native to North America.

Identification: Balsam firs are 46-66' (14-20 m) tall, up to a maximum of 89' (27 m). Bark is thin, smooth, and gray; with resin blisters. On older trees, the bark becomes brown and scaly. Trees reach a diameter of 12-30" (30-76 cm). Leaves are flat needles ½-1" (1.5-3 cm) long. Needle tips may be flat, notched, or rounded. Cones are 1½-3" (4-8 cm) long, dark purple, drying to brown.

Online References:

Abies balsamea at the USDA Forest Service's Silvics of North America site (detailed article)

Abies balsamea on Earl J.S. Rook's Flora, Fauna, Earth, and Sky ... The Natural History of the Northwoods (also very informative)

Abies balsamea at the Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation

Abies balsamea at the University of Connecticut Plant Database

Abies balsamea on the USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

Abies balsamea description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 8 Mar 2012.

9/18/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, ME
≈ 4 × 2½" (10 × 7 cm) ID is tentative or incomplete

9/18/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, ME
≈ 19 × 12" (47 × 31 cm) ID is tentative or incomplete

9/19/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, ME
≈ 21 × 14" (52 × 34 cm) ID is tentative or incomplete

Range:

About this map...