Noble fir
From CreationWiki, the encyclopedia of creation science
| Noble Fir |
|---|
|
| Scientific Classification |
| Binomial name |
|
Abies procera |
The Noble Fir is also known as the Abies procera and is in the family Pinaceae, and the genus Abies. It is the largest of all the true firs and a popular variety used for Christmas trees due to its branch shape and spacing, along with its soft needles.
Contents |
Anatomy
The noble fir is a large evergreen tree which grows to be 140 to 200 feet tall with a 3 to 5 feet diameter. The bark on the tree is somewhat rectangular in shape, with a scaly appearance. It is also purplish gray to reddish brown color. The cones unlike most other coniferous trees stick stright up, so it it easy to distinguish in the forest.
It produces both male and female cones, while the male cones are reddish and borne beneath the leaves, the female cones are erect, covered by long needle like structures. They are borne near the top of the crown. The needles are about 1 inch long, in a cross-section with a groove on top along the midrib, the base curves, making the needle resemble a hockey stick. The tips of the needles are mostly rounded but may be pointed on cone bearing branches and can be spirally arranged but usually up swept.
Reproduction
Like other true firs the noble fir is monoecious (both sexes) and produces female cones high in the crown and clusters of male cones in a zone below. Female cones are borne singly or in groups of two, or rarely, up to five, on the upper side of one year old twigs. Male cones are borne in clusters of up to 30 or more on the undersides of branches. Seven developmental stages have been identified for female cone, beginning with bud swelling, and ending with cone shattering. A period of early rapid growth followed by pollen receptivity. The cone growth is generally completed by middle of August of the same year it started.
Ecology
Noble firs are located in the Cascade Range from Stevens Pass, Washington, southern Oregon and the Klamath Mountains in northern California. They live in deep forests at elevations between 600 to 1500 metres. The best specimens are found in deep rich soils with a short cool growing season and abundant annual precipitation, mainly as snow. One of the most popular uses for a Noble fir is for Christmas trees.
Related References
 Browse |
