GRAND FIR
abies grandis

• also known as Lowland Fir, Lowland White Fir, Silver Fir, Yellow Fir
• ais often incorrectly identified as a balsam
• from the Latin "abeo"; to rise, referring to the great height that these trees reach
• "fir" is from the old English word for fire - 'fuhr', because it was used for firewood

UNIQUE FEATURES:

• stately, tall tree
• fastest growing and largest fir in BC
• because of unique odor and beauty they are often chosen as Christmas trees
• has a thin bark making it susceptible to fire

LOCATION:

• sea level to mid elevations
• southern coast, wet interior forests in Kootenay and Columbia regions

SIZE:

• can reach up to 80 metres in height

CONES:

• barrel-shaped, loses its scales along with the seeds in the autumn
• yellowish-green
• sits upright on branches

NEEDLES:

• blunt, notched on the end
• 2 white bands on the lower surface
• because of their arrangement on the twigs, the branches appear flattened

BARK:

• smooth, greyish-brown
• has resin blisters on the young trees which when broken have a very distinctive odor

USES:

• modern - Christmas trees, resin can be used on insect bites and cuts to prevent infection
• traditional - bark: canoes; pitch: finish wood, provided good grip on bows, with oil as a perfume and prevent baldness; branches: woven into costumes, for scrubbing before ceremonies, incense