GRAND FIR.
(Abies grandis)
Of the four species of true firs which are native to Mt. Rainier
National Park this one receives the least attention, for it is not as
abundant as the others and, in addition, it lacks readily apparent gross
characters of an individual nature by which it may be readily
distinguished from its associates.
This species prefers moist stream bottoms and will be generally
encountered in such situations at low elevations, particularly below
2500 feet. In the vicinity of the Nisqually Entrance it is quite common.
Several small trees of this species have also been planted about the
Administration Building at Longmire.
In spite of its name the grand fir is not an imposing tree in Mount
Rainier National Park. Most specimens are from 18-30 inches in
diameter and 75-125 feet tall. On young trees the smooth
grey bark is marked with lighter colored areas while older and
larger trunks have darker furrowed bark. The foliage is a
yellow-green with the needles being from 1-2 inches in length, flat,
soft to the touch, grooved, blunt, and generally distinctly notched at
the apex, and with two broad, silvery-white stripes (rows of stomata) on
the underside. On the lower branches of the crown, and on young trees,
these needles, by a conspicuous twist at the base, stand out on opposite
sides of the twigs in a comb-like arrangement. This feature which has
been compared by many people as having the appearance of "hair parted in
the middle", is an excellent character of identification and one by
which it may be readily separated from the amabalis fir, which is a
common associate and with which it will most likely be confused. As in
the case of all true firs the needles are broad at the base and, when
they drop from the branches, or when they are pulled from them, the
characteristic round leaf scars will be seen. The cones are a
yellow green in color, 2-4 inches long and 1 - 1-1/2 inches in
diameter.
The grand fir is found along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia
to northern California and, inland, to northern Idaho and western
Montana.
-oOo-
GRAND FIR (Abies grandis) A-Twig, illustrating the round
leaf scars characteristic of all true firs and the comb-like arrangement
of the foliage on the branches. (x1).
AMABILIS FIR (Abies
amabalis). B-Cone (x1). C-Twig, illustrating the arrangement of the
foliage upon the branches. Note the row of needles which overlays the
branch and obscures it from view. (x1).
-oOo-
Descriptions continued...
