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Abies
bifolia. Synonym:
Abies lasiocarpa.
(Subalpine Fir) Montane,
subalpine, alpine.
Woodlands. Spring. Thin, silvery-gray bark and flat smooth needles distinguish the Subalpine Fir. A longitudinal crease runs the length of the needle, and, as is true for all Firs, cones project upward from the top side of branches. (Pine and Spruce cones dangle downward from the bottom side of branches.) The tree grows to over 100 feet tall, and, like Engelmann Spruce, it is contorted and dwarfed as Krummholz (German for "crooked wood") at timberline. Along with Engelmann Spruce, Subalpine Fir dominates subalpine forests. The pictured tree is a giant at four feet in diameter. "Abies" is the classical Latin name. This tree was first described by Andrew Murray (1812-1876) in 1863 from a specimen collected in New Mexico by Benito Roezl (1824-1885). There has been (and continues to be) disagreement about the name of this tree. Weber at first called it Abies lasiocarpa, which is the name that Utah Flora and Intermountain Flora still give it. Weber, Flora of North America, and Synthesis now call this tree Abies bifolia. Weber and FNA indicate that A. lasiocarpa is found only in the Pacific coast states; Abies bifolia is a tree of the high elevations of the Rocky Mountains. |
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Abies
bifolia. Synonym:
Abies lasiocarpa. (Subalpine Fir) Montane,
subalpine, alpine.
Woodlands. Spring. New spring growth is soft and a much lighter green than the green of last year. |
Range map © John Kartesz,
County Color Key
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Range map for Abies bifolia |
Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state
Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Eradicated
Questionable presence