AMABALIS FIR.
(Abies amabalis)

This is the most widely distributed true fir in the park, as it is found throughout the area from the lower park boundaries to the lower limits of the sub-alpine zone at approximately 5300 feet. It is most common, however, between 2000 and 4500 feet.

It is a beautiful tree with smooth ash-grey bark that is seldom furrowed. Even on old trunks ridges occur only at the base. The smooth bark is often mottled by large lighter grey patches not unlike the grand fir. In favorable situations it is generally from 75-150 feet in height and 18-36 inches in diameter, though larger trees may occasionally be found. The foliage is dense, glossy, and a deep blue-green in color; individual needles are 1-1/2 inches long, flat, soft to the touch, conspicuously grooved on the upper side and with two conspicuous silvery white stripes (rows of stomata) on the underside and generally notched at the apex. Like all true firs the needles are broad at the base and, upon falling from the branch or when they are pulled from it, conspicuous round leaf scars are visible on the twig. These needles clothe the branches thickly, and they not only grow on either side of the branch but are also massed above it as well. This character readily identifies the amabilis fir from the grand fir with which it is most often confused. The cones are large and handsome, being 4-6 inches long, 2 - 2-1/2 inches in diameter, and a beautiful dark purple in color. They stand erect upon the upper branches of the tree, as is characteristic of the cones of all true firs, and are quite conspicuous in late summer before they ripen and disintegrate. One often finds large numbers of these cones along the trails, during the late summer and early fall, for quantities of them are cut from the tree tops by the Douglas squirrels at that season. The wood is soft, fine grained and light brown in color. While no data are available as to the age which this species attains in this national park Sudworth states that trees 16-24 inches in diameter are from 175-230 years old so it is unlikely that the larger trees here are more than 250-300 years of age.

This species may be found along the Pacific Coast from southeastern Alaska through British Columbia and Washington to the vicinity of Crater Lake National Park in Oregon.

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