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

Alpine Fir, Balsam Fir, Subalpine Fir, White Balsam Fir

Abies lasiocarpa var. lasiocarpa

Synonyms: Abies blasamea ssp. lasiocarpa, Abies balsamea var. fallax, Abies bifolia, Abies subalpina, Pinus lasiocarpa

Alpine Fir, Balsam Fir, Subalpine Fir, White Balsam Fir: Abies lasiocarpa var. lasiocarpa (Synonyms: Abies blasamea ssp. lasiocarpa, Abies balsamea var. fallax, Abies bifolia, Abies subalpina, Pinus lasiocarpa) - Alpine Fir, Balsam Fir, Subalpine Fir, White Balsam Fir: Abies lasiocarpa var. lasiocarpa (Synonyms: Abies blasamea ssp. lasiocarpa, Abies balsamea var. fallax, Abies bifolia, Abies subalpina, Pinus lasiocarpa)

The photo at left shows a close-up of one stem of subalpine fir as seen along the Island Springs Trail immediately to the east of Little Mt. Adams on the eastern slopes of Mt. Adams.........August 25, 2005. The needles are clustered on the upper two-thirds of the stem like a brush. The photo at right shows a view of the upper stem and upright cones of subalpine fir as seen in upper Killen Creek Meadows, Mount Adams Wilderness......August 4, 2022.

Alpine Fir, Balsam Fir, Subalpine Fir, White Balsam Fir: Abies lasiocarpa var. lasiocarpa (Synonyms: Abies blasamea ssp. lasiocarpa, Abies balsamea var. fallax, Abies bifolia, Abies subalpina, Pinus lasiocarpa)

Dorsal surface of needle with a single row of stomatal bloom and a central groove, more noticeable here towards its base.

Ventral surface of a needle of Alpine Fir, Balsam Fir, Subalpine Fir, White Balsam Fir: Abies lasiocarpa var. lasiocarpa (Synonyms: Abies blasamea ssp. lasiocarpa, Abies balsamea var. fallax, Abies bifolia, Abies subalpina, Pinus lasiocarpa)

Ventral surface of the needle with two broad rows of stomatal bloom.

Alpine Fir, Balsam Fir, Subalpine Fir, White Balsam Fir: Abies lasiocarpa var. lasiocarpa (Synonyms: Abies blasamea ssp. lasiocarpa, Abies balsamea var. fallax, Abies bifolia, Abies subalpina, Pinus lasiocarpa)

The double rows of stomatal bloom of the lower needle surface of subalpine fir, as seen at treeline beside Crystal Lake on the western slopes of Mt. Adams.........September 25, 2005.

Alpine Fir, Balsam Fir, Subalpine Fir, White Balsam Fir: Abies lasiocarpa var. lasiocarpa (Synonyms: Abies blasamea ssp. lasiocarpa, Abies balsamea var. fallax, Abies bifolia, Abies subalpina, Pinus lasiocarpa) - Alpine Fir, Balsam Fir, Subalpine Fir, White Balsam Fir: Abies lasiocarpa var. lasiocarpa (Synonyms: Abies blasamea ssp. lasiocarpa, Abies balsamea var. fallax, Abies bifolia, Abies subalpina, Pinus lasiocarpa)

Some of the highest elevation subalpine firs on Mount Adams as seen at the base of the terminal moraine of the Adams Glacier near High Camp, Mount Adams Wilderness..........August 19, 2013. The photo at right shows a small subalpine fir found near 7300' on a lateral moraine above the terminal moraine of the Adams Glacier, above the headwaters of the Lewis River, Mt. Adams Wilderness......July 19, 2018.

Paul Slichter