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Flora of the Carolinas and Virginia, Working Draft of 1 January 1997 -- Gymnosperms Alan S. Weakley.
Copyright - Alan S. Weakley, 1998, 1999. All Rights Reserved.


Abies P. Miller (Fir

References: Hunt in FNA (1993).

1. Abies balsamea Linnaeus) P. Miller, Balsam Fir, Northern Balsam. Mt (VA): high elevation forests and cliffs; rare (VA Rare List). April-May. Known in our area (as a native) only from Page and Madison counties, VA, A. balsamea ranges from Newfoundland and Labrador west to n. Alberta, south to NY, PA, MI, WI, and IA, and (disjunct) in the mountains to n. VA. There has been considerable debate over the taxonomic status of some, especially southern, populations of A. balsamea, which show some transition in characters towards A. fraseri, and have been variously treated as A. intermedia Fulling, A. balsamea var. phanerolepis Fernald, or A. Hphanerolepis (Fernald) Liu. Variation in e. North American Abies is somewhat clinal, with the greatest geographical and morphological discontinuity between n. VA and s. VA. It seems best, therefore, to recognize A. fraseri as a species and A. balsamea as a species including the clinal var. phanerolepis. The balsam woolly adelgid is afflicting this species in Shenandoah National Park. [= C, F, FNA, G, K, W, Z; including A. balsamea var. phanerolepis Fernald -- F, G; including A. intermedia Fulling]
[ Specimen Image ]

2. Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poiret, Fraser Fir, She Balsam, Southern Balsam. Mt (NC, VA): high elevation forests, from about 1500-2037m; uncommon (US Candidate, NC Candidate, VA Rare List). May-June; September-November. A. fraseri is a Southern Appalachian endemic, ranging from Grayson and Smyth counties, VA (notably, Mount Rogers) south to e. TN and sw. NC. This species is threatened as a native species by a virulent alien pest, the balsam woolly adelgid, and environmental damage caused by pollution. Populations on Mt. Rogers and, to a lesser extent, Roan and Grandfather mountains, appear to be relatively healthy. A. fraseri is closely related to the northern Balsam Fir, A. balsamea, and may be a relatively recent derivative of it. During the 1970's and 1980's, the cultivation of Fraser Fir Christmas trees became an important part of the economy of the North Carolina mountains. Most Christmas tree plantations are at 1000-1500m in elevation; below 1000m, Fraser Fir is very susceptible to a fungal root rot (Phytophthora), above 1500m it grows too slowly to be profitable and is often "flagged" by winds, ruining its shape for commercial purposes. [= RAB, C, F, FNA, G, K, S, W, Z]
[ Specimen Image ]

Our 2 native species and other non-natives are grown as ornamentals, especially in the mountains.