[True Firs: The Genus Abies in Mt. Adams Country]

Noble Fir, Red Fir, White Fir

Abies procera

Synonym: Abies nobilis

Noble Fir, Red Fir, White Fir: Abies procera (Synonym: Abies nobilis)

The photo above shows the lower surface of the needles of a noble fir seen along forest road #2360 about 100 meters north of its intersection with road #041 near Eckhart Point to the southwest of Mt. Adams..........October 14, 2005. Both the lower and upper surface commonly bear a pair of rows of silvery-white stomatal bloom. The base of each spreading needle veers abruptly to parallel the stem, often characterized as appearing like a hockey stick. The needles are also 4-angled or diamond-shaped in cross-section.

Noble Fir, Red Fir, White Fir: Abies procera (Synonym: Abies nobilis)

The photo above shows a grove of noble firs along forest road #2360 about 100 meters north of its intersection with road #041 near Eckhart Point to the southwest of Mt. Adams.........October 14, 2005. Noble fir needs a fair amount of sunlight, so older trees are often seen with their lowest branches no lower than the midpoint of the tree.

Paul Slichter