Abies balsamea (L.) Miller
Detail
- Family
- Pinaceae
- Botanical Name
- Abies balsamea (L.) Miller
- Common Name
- Balsam Fir, Northern Balsam
- Synonym(s)
- Flora of Virginia Name/Status
- Abies balsamea (L.) P. Mill
- Comments
- Our only native occurrences are at the highest elevations of Shenandoah National Park. Plants from this area have been called A. balsamea var. phanerolepis, intermediate between balsam and Fraser fir. Genetic studies of Eastern firs revealed that var. phanerolepis is, in fact, closer to A. fraseri (see Can. J. Bot. 62:609-616 (1984)). Given the importance of fir for Christmas trees, this is probably a case of taxonomy being driven by the needs of the plant industry, at least until a fuller understanding of fir genetics is gained.
- Habitat
- High-elevation forests and rock outcrops. Rare, mountains; the only natural occurrences are on the northern Blue Ridge, at and near Hawksbill (elev. 4060 ft) and Stony Man (elev. 4010 ft) mountains, Shenandoah National Park.
- Native Status
- Native
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