The Alpine Fir


Alpine Fir
Alpine Larch
Amabilis Fir
Balsam Poplar/Black Cottonwood
Big Leaf Maple
Black Spruce
Choke Cherry
Pacific Dogwood
Douglas Fir
Douglas Maple
Engelmann Spruce
Garry Oak
Grand Fir
Black Hawthorn
Lodgepole Pine
Mountain Alder
Mountain Hemlock
Pacific Willow
Paper Birch
Ponderosa Pine
Red Alder
Rocky Mountain Juniper
Sitka Spruce
Tamarack Larch
Trembling Aspen
Vine Maple
Western Hemlock
Western Larch
Western Red Cedar
Western White Pine
Western Yew
Whitebark Pine
White Spruce
Yellow Cedar
Animals
Birds
Fish
Wildflowers
Trees
Survival
Parks
Trails





British Columbia Outdoor Wilderness Guide

Alpine1.Gif
ALPINE FIR
Abies lasiocarpa

  • The Alpine Fir is also know as Subalpine Fir, White Balsam Fir
  • The Alpine Fir is often mistaken for balsam (fir) which is an eastern species
  • 'Abies' is from the Latin 'abeo' which means "rising" referring to the great height these trees can reach
  • "Fir" is from 'fuhr' the old English word for 'fire' denoting the tree's use as firewood


UNIQUE FEATURES:

  • The Alpine Fir is does not live long (120 to 140 years); is susceptible to different fungus
  • The lichens that are found on the lower branches are food for caribou

LOCATION:

  • The Alpine Fir is found at high elevations but near sea level on the north coast
  • Throughout most of the interior of the province
  • No true firs exist on the Queen Charlotte Islands

SIZE:

  • The Alpine Fir is usually 20 to 35 metres but can reach up to 50 metres in height

CONES:

  • The cones of the Alpine Fir is deep purple, lighter colour as they age, cylindrical
  • Grow upright on branches in upper levels of the tree
  • Disintegrate on the tree to release their seeds
  • Pollen cones: bluish colour

Alpine2.Gif
NEEDLES:

  • The needles of the Alpine Fir is appear to be blown upward on the branches
  • Blunt and notched at the tip
  • Blue-green with white bands on the upper and lower surfaces

BARK:

  • Smooth, grey, blistered
  • Becoming scaly as the tree ages

USES:

  • Modern - lumber, plywood, veneers, boxes, pulp
  • Traditional - wood, bark, boughs: roof shingles, bark baskets, bedding; seeds - eaten; pitch - coating canoe seams, rubbing on bow strings, medicine; rotten wood - smudge fires for tanning hides

Follow Us On Facebook


List of BC Adventure
Advertisers

Site Info
Advertise With Us
Awards
About Us
Contact Us
Free Vacation Guides
BC Vacation Guides
Coastal Vacations
Thompson Okanagan
EcoTourism
Fishing Vacations
Guest Ranch Guide
Romantic Getaways
Wilderness Vacations
Winter Vacations
The Rockies Guide
Login







The Alpine Fir