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Abies lasiocarpa

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Abies lasiocarpa
Specimen inNorth Cascades National Park
Scientific classificationEdit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnospermae
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Family: Pinaceae
Genus: Abies
Species:
A. lasiocarpa
Binomial name
Abies lasiocarpa
Natural range

Abies lasiocarpa,thesubalpine firorRocky Mountain fir,is a westernNorth Americanfirtree.

Description[edit]

Abies lasiocarpais a medium-sizedevergreenconiferwith a very narrow conic crown, growing to 20 metres (66 ft) tall, exceptionally 40–50 m (130–160 ft), with atrunkup to 1 m (3 ft 3 in) thick, exceptionally 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in).[2]Thebarkon young trees is smooth, gray, and withresinblisters, becoming rough and fissured or scaly on old trees.[2]The lowest branches can be observed growing 1 m (3 ft 3 in) above ground level.[2]Theleavesare flat and needle-like,1.5–3 centimetres (5⁄8–1+1⁄8in) long, glaucous green above with a broad stripe ofstomata,and two blue-white stomatal bands below; the freshleaf scarsare reddish (tan on the inland variety).[2]They are arranged spirally on the shoot, but with the leaf bases twisted to be arranged to the sides of and above the shoot, with few or none below the shoot. Theconesare erect,6–12 cm (2+1⁄4–4+3⁄4in) long, dark purple[2]with fine yellow-brown pubescence, ripening brown and disintegrating to release the wingedseedsin early fall.

Taxonomy[edit]

There are two or threetaxain subalpine fir, treated very differently by different authors:

  • TheCoast Range subalpine fir(Abies lasiocarpa)[2]in the narrow sense, is the typical form of the species, occurring in thePacific Coast Ranges,theOlympic Mountainsand the Cascade Range from Southeast Alaska (Panhandle mountains) south to California.
  • TheRocky Mountains subalpine firis very closely related and of disputed status, being variously treated as a distinct speciesAbies bifolia,[2]as avarietyof Coast Range subalpine firAbies lasiocarpavar.bifolia,or not distinguished from typicalA. lasiocarpaat all. It occurs in theRocky Mountainsfrom Southeast Alaska (easternAlaska Range) south to Colorado. It differs primarily in the chemical composition of its resin, microscopic features,[2]and in the fresh leaf scars being yellow-brown, not reddish. TheFlora of North Americatreats it as a distinct species, while theUnited States Department of Agriculture(USDA) includes it withinA. lasiocarpawithout distinction.
  • Thecorkbark firAbies lasiocarpavar.arizonicaoccurs in Arizona and New Mexico.[2]It differs in thicker, corky bark and more strongly glaucous foliage. In resin composition it is closer toA. bifoliathan to typicalA. lasiocarpa,though the combination "Abies bifolia var. arizonica" has not been formally published. TheFlora of North Americaincludes it withinA. bifoliawithout distinction; the USDA treats it as a distinct variety ofA. lasiocarpa.

Distribution[edit]

The species is native to the mountains ofYukon,British Columbiaand westernAlbertainWestern Canada;and toSoutheast Alaska,Washington,Oregon,Idaho,Western Montana,Wyoming,Utah,Colorado,New Mexico,Arizona,northeasternNevada,and theTrinity Alpsof theKlamath Mountainsin northwesternCaliforniain theWestern United States.[2]

It occurs at high altitudes, commonly found at and immediately below thetree line.It can be found at elevations of 300–900 m (980–2,950 ft) in the north of the range (rarely down to sea level in the far north), to 2,400–3,650 m (7,870–11,980 ft) in the south of the range. West of theCascaderidge, it can be found at elevations of 1,200–2,000 m (3,900–6,600 ft), while further east (particularly in Western Montana) it can be found from 1,500 to 2,700 m (4,900 to 8,900 ft).[2]

Ecology[edit]

Annual precipitation ranges from 380 cm (150 in) in coastal mountain sites to only 65 cm (26 in) inland.[2]Snow gathered on the branches helps protect them from wind and heat.[2]Firs in general act as asnow fence,leading to the creation of meadows through extra moisture accumulation.[2]

The tree is highlyshade tolerant,but very vulnerable to fire, short-lived, and slow-growing.[2]Despite having weaker wood than some of its timberline associates, it can survive by its ability to adapt (growing in akrummholzform) and reproduce vialayeringin clusters at high elevations.[2]At timberline, a single tree can leave behind a ring of trees (an 'atoll') via layering.[2]The species has benefited fromwildfire suppressionin more recent years.[2]

Various animals, including mountain goats, take shelter in subalpine fir clusters andkrummholz.[2]The bark is browsed by game animals and its leaves are eaten by grouse. Songbirds, Richardson's grouse, Cascade pine squirrels, and other mammals consume the seeds.[3][4]It is host topathogenic fungisuch as the speciesDelphinella balsameae.[5]

Uses[edit]

Native Americans used the leaves as deodorant and burned them as incense or medicinal vapor.[2]Powdered bark and other components were used in solutions to treat colds.[2]Resin was used to dress wounds or chewed as gum.[2]The tree boughs were used for bedding.[2]SomePlateau Indiantribes drank or washed in a subalpine firboilfor purification or to make their hair grow.[6]

The light wood is considered poor quality, but sometimes used for wood pulp,[2]general structural purposes and paper manufacture. It is also a popularChristmas tree.It is a popularornamental treefor parks and large gardens, grown for its strongly glaucous-blue foliage. It can also function as abonsai.[2]ThecultivarAbies lasiocarpavar.arizonica'Compacta' is suitable for smaller gardens, growing as a shrub to 4 m (13 ft) tall by 1.5 m (4 ft 11 in) broad. In the UK It has gained theRoyal Horticultural Society'sAward of Garden Merit.[7][8]

The largest-known specimen, measuring 2.1 m (6 ft 11 in) thick and 39 m (129 ft) tall, had a small door in its trunk and a storage space, which the film crew of theDisney-produced documentaryThe Olympic Elk(1952) used to store equipment.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ^Farjon, A. (2013)."Abies lasiocarpa".IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.2013:e.T42289A2970039.doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42289A2970039.en.Retrieved11 November2021.
  2. ^abcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzArno, Stephen F.; Hammerly, Ramona P. (2020) [1977].Northwest Trees: Identifying & Understanding the Region's Native Trees(field guide ed.). Seattle:Mountaineers Books.pp. 135–143.ISBN1-68051-329-X.OCLC1141235469.
  3. ^Peattie, Donald Culross(1953).A Natural History of Western Trees.New York:Bonanza Books.p. 192.
  4. ^Whitney, Stephen (1985).Western Forests (The Audubon Society Nature Guides).New York: Knopf. p.360.ISBN0-394-73127-1.
  5. ^Merrill, W.; Wenner, N. G.; Kelley, R. (2007)."Delphinella balsameaeTip Blight ofAbies lasiocarpain Vermont ".Plant disease.81(2): 229.
  6. ^Hunn, Eugene S. (1990).Nch'i-Wana, "The Big River": Mid-Columbia Indians and Their Land.University of Washington Press.p. 351.ISBN0-295-97119-3.
  7. ^"Abies lasiocarpavar.amazonica'Compacta'".www.rhs.org.Royal Horticultural Society.Retrieved17 November2019.
  8. ^"AGM Plants - Ornamental"(PDF).www.rhs.org.Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 1.Retrieved17 November2019.

External links[edit]

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