Abies – Latin name for European fir described by Piny (author of Natural History, an encyclopedic work of uneven accuracy that was an authority on scientific matters up to the Middle Ages) around 77 A.D.
Leaves:
- needle-like
- flat
- 3/4–2” long
- white stomatal bands, usually on lower surface
- no petiole
- spirally arranged or 2-ranked
Cones:
- male cones:
- densely clustered on shoots in axils
- often red, blue, purple
- female cones:
- upright
- deciduous
- large, up to 10” tall
- scales rounded w/ pointed bracts that extend beyond scale
- green, sometimes purple
- seeds have wings
- wind pollinated
Other notes:
- trees to 100’ or more
- usually pyramidal in form
- evergreen
- when leaves fall off there is a circular scar on branch (but no pegs, as in Picea)
- “sharp spruce, fine fir”
- buds rounded, ~covered with wax, resin, or curved needles
- buds near ends of twigs often grow in clusters of 3 – “cruciform buds” – lead to very regular branching pattern