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FAlphabetical List of Plants & Trees
FBotanical Name Index
FEvergreen Trees
FDeciduous Trees
FShrubs & Vines
FWet Open Places
FWoods and Thickets
FDry Open Places
FGlossary
FSources Cited
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| These young Red Fir are
in the Mamquam valley near Squamish, with fireweed in the
foreground. |
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RED FIR
Abies amabilis
Common
Names: Pacific Silver Fir. Red Silver
Fir. Silver Fir. Amabilis Fir. Cascades
Fir. Lovely Fir.
Range:
Extreme southeastern Alaska south through western British
Columbia, the Cascade Range of Washington and Oregon, to
northwestern California. Pacific silver fir is also found in
the Olympic Mountains of Washington.
Habitat:
Woodland, Canopy. High mountain slopes and benches, going
down to sea-level in the north of its range. The best specimens
grow in deep moist soils and cool wet air conditions such as fog
belts.
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| These adolescents have
zits-resin blisters actually-. Abies do this along with
white pines and douglas to a lesser degree. |
|
Description:
A long-lived, native conifer. At maturity, it can reach
heights of 100 to 230 feet and diameters of 36 to 44 inches. The
average maximum age for Red Fir is 400 to 500 years on good sites,
and 250 to 350 years on more adverse sites. The maximum recorded
age is 540 years. As Red Fir becomes older, growth is commonly
deformed. The crown is rigid and symmetrical with lateral
branches perpendicular to the stem. Young trees have
resin-filled blisters protruding from the smooth, thin bark.
The bark of older trees is rough textured and flaky. The needles
grow from opposite sides of the branch, spreading horizontally or
brushed forward. |
| The top is flat, grooved, and "lustrous
green", and the underside is silvery white. Red Fir has
a second type of foliage on the uppermost, cone-bearing branches.
These needles are very sharp and curved. The cones are stiffly
erect, barrel shaped, and 3.5 to 6 inches long. It is in
leaf all year, and the seeds ripen in October. The flowers are
pollinated by the wind.
Edible:
Gum; Inner bark; Tea. Young shoot tips are used as a
substitute for tea. The pitch obtained from the bark can be hardened and used as a
chewing gum. Inner bark can be dried, ground into a powder
and then used with grain flours, etc. to make bread and
other preparations.
Medicine:
This plant was used quite widely by Native Americans.
An infusion of the bark was used as a tonic and to treat stomach
ailments, TB, hemorrhoids and various minor complaints. The
pitch, or resin, was also used to treat colds, sore throats,
etc. |
| The bark of this tree contains
blisters that are filled with a resin called 'Canadian Balsam'
that is used in the same ways as the resin of A. balsamea.
The resin obtained from this tree has been used throughout the
world and is a very effective antiseptic and healing agent. |
 |
| Soon the bark breaks up
to become grooved/scaley, but you can still sometimes see
the pits where the resin blisters were. |
|
 |
| The cones are the
biggest of our Abies species, and like all such,
disintegrate at maturity. It's one of our four important
coastal species. |
|
It is
used as a healing and analgesic protective covering for burns,
bruises, wounds and sores. It is also used to treat sore nipples
and is said to be one of the best curatives for a sore throat.
The resin is also antiscorbutic, diuretic, stimulant and
tonic. It is used internally in propriety mixtures to treat
coughs and diarrhea, though taken in excess it is purgative.
A warm liquid of the gummy sap
was drunk as a treatment for gonorrhea.
A tea made from the leaves is antiscorbutic. It is used in
the treatment of coughs, colds and fevers. The leaves and
young shoots are best harvested in the spring and dried for later
use.
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| Wildlife:
The dense growth of Red Fir provides hiding, cover, and
thermal protection for wildlife. It provides a good mountain
goat habitat. Northern spotted owls are dependent on the
availability of old-growth stands for nest site selection and
sufficient prey. Other species with a preference for Red Fir
stands include Vaux's swift, fisher, western red-backed vole, and
Olympic salamander. The seeds are eaten by birds, rodents, and
squirrels, however, it is the least preferred of trees browsed by
elk. |
 |
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Wood - The
wood of Red Fir is soft, light in weight and color, and has little odor or
resin. The boughs are fragrant and can be hung in the home as an air
freshener. Not very durable. It is used for framing small buildings
but is not strong enough for larger buildings. It is also used for crates,
pulp, etc. As a "white wood", Red Fir is a major export to
Japan for business construction. It is used for Christmas trees and
decorative greenery.
The balsamic resin 'Balm of Gilead' or 'Canada Balsam' according to other
reports is obtained during July and August from blisters in the bark or by
cutting pockets in the wood. Another report says that it is a turpentine.
It is used medicinally and in dentistry, also in the manufacture of glues,
candles and as a cement for microscopes and slides - it has a high
refractive index resembling that of glass. The average yield is about 8 -
10 oz. per tree. The resin is also a fixative in soaps and perfumery.
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| Human raven Mask, Bella
Coola people, Pacific northwest coast, mid-19th century
A.D., wood and pigment |
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Native Use:
Bella Coola - Liquid pitch mixed with
mountain goat tallow and used for infected eyes. Infusion of bark
taken for stomach ailments. Liquid pitch mixed with mountain
goat tallow and taken for sore throat. Infusion of bark taken for
tuberculosis.
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Haisla - Bark and other plants used
for "sickness." Cambium used for food. Boughs used as a
"bush sleigh" to pull cargo across deep snow. Pitch
applied to the face of mourners.
Hanaksiala - Infusion of bark taken
for stomach ulcers.
Infusion of bark taken for hemorrhoids. Boughs used as a "bush
sleigh" to pull cargo across deep snow. Boughs used to line
oolichan ripening pits.
Kitasoo - Decoction of bark used
medicinally. Inner bark used for food.
Nitinaht - Boughs placed in fire and smoke inhaled to prevent
sickness. Infusion of crushed bark, red alder and hemlock barks
taken for internal injuries. Hardened pitch chewed for pleasure.
Long, hard knots used to make halibut hooks. Boughs bundled up and used as
home air fresheners.
Oweekeno - Pitch boiled with grease or
pitch and sugar and taken for colds.
Thompson - Pitch taken for
colds. Pitch taken for any type of bad disease. Poultice of
pitch and buttercup roots used for tuberculosis. Pitch taken for
tuberculosis. Decoction of boughs and/or bark taken for
tuberculosis. Decoction of branches taken as medicine. Boiled boughs
mixed with decoctions of other plants and deer grease and used to perfume
the hair.
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