Abies fraseri
balsam fir, eastern fir, Fraser balsam fir, Fraser fir, southern balsam, southern balsam fir, southern fir
gray, thin, smooth, with age developing appressed reddish scales at trunk base.
diverging from trunk at right angles;
twigs opposite, pale yellow-brown, pubescence reddish.
exposed, light brown, conic, small, resinous, apex acute;
basal scales short, broad, equilaterally triangular, glabrous, resinous, margins entire, apex sharp-pointed.
1.2–2.5cm × 1.5–2mm, 2-ranked, particularly in lower parts of tree, to spiraled, flexible;
cross section flat, grooved adaxially;
odor turpentinelike, strong;
abaxial surface with (8–)10(–12) stomatal rows on each side of midrib;
adaxial surface dark lustrous green, sometimes slightly glaucous, with 0–3 stomatal rows at midleaf, these more numerous toward leaf apex;
apex slightly notched to rounded;
resin canals large, ± median, away from margins and midway between abaxial and adaxial epidermal layers.
at pollination reddish yellow or yellowish green.
cones cylindric, 3.5–6 × 2.5–4cm, dark purple overlaid with yellowish green bracts, sessile, apex round;
scales ca. 0.7–1 × 1–1.3cm, pubescent;
bracts exserted and reflexed over cone scales.
=24.
Abies fraseri
Some (e.g., B.F. Jacobs et al. 1984) have argued that Fraser fir is at the end of a disjunct cline of balsam fir and perhaps does not deserve separate specific status. A.E. Matzenko (1968) took the opposite view, classifying Fraser fir and balsam fir in different taxonomic series of the genus.
Of conservation concern.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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