Spermatophytes (seed plants): Gymnosperms (non-flowering plants): Conifers: Pinales
WEAKLEY'S FLORA (11/30/12):
Abies fraseri
FAMILY
Pinaceae
Dig deeper at SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
You may also want to check Trees, Shrubs, and Woody Vines of North Carolina
Learn more about Fraser Fir from the Vascular Plants of North Carolina.
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Abies fraseri
FAMILY
Pinaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 016-04-001:
Abies fraseri
FAMILY
Pinaceae
COMMON NAME:
Fraser Fir, She Balsam, Southern Balsam
To see larger pictures, click or hover over the thumbnails.
)
USDA-NRCS PLANTS Database / Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913 pnd_abfr_001_lvd
)
JK Marlow jkm0501b_02
January
)
JK Marlow jkm160503_261
May Jackson County NC
Blue Ridge Parkway
)
JK Marlow jkm160503_281
May Jackson County NC
Blue Ridge Parkway
)
JK Marlow jkm160503_331
May Jackson County NC
Blue Ridge Parkway
)
JK Marlow jkm160503_334
May Jackson County NC
Blue Ridge Parkway
After seed cones disintegrate, the spikelike upright central axis is left, per Woody Plants of the Southeastern US: A Winter Guide.
)
JK Marlow jkm160503_336
May Jackson County NC
Blue Ridge Parkway
)
JK Marlow jkm170507_721
May Jackson County NC
Blue Ridge Parkway
)
JK Marlow jkm170507_722
May Jackson County NC
Blue Ridge Parkway
The flat fragrant leaves leave circular scars on the twig when removed, per Woody Plants of the Blue Ridge.
)
Keith Bradley kab_abies_fraseri_8831
May VA
Grayson Highlands State Park
)
Keith Bradley kab_abies_fraseri_8834
May Grayson County VA
Grayson Highlands State Park
)
JK Marlow jkm0407t_34
July Mitchell County NC
The Roan Highlands
The bark has resin blisters, per Woody Plants of the Blue Ridge.
)
Richard and Teresa Ware rtw_a_fraseri_12
July Towns-Union Counties GA
Brasstown Bald
)
Richard and Teresa Ware rtw_a_fraseri_4
July Towns-Union Counties GA
Brasstown Bald
Leaves 2-ranked (esp in lower parts of tree) to spiraled, flexible, per Flora of North America.
)
JK Marlow s050806_ij
August Transylvania County NC
Blue Ridge Parkway
Needles not more than 1" long, green above & with chalky white bands below, per Native Trees of the Southeast, An Identification Guide.
COMPARE
needles of Fir, Hemlock and Spruce
)
JK Marlow jkm140913_680
September Haywood County NC
Blue Ridge Parkway
Foliage soft to the touch, with a strong resinous odor when rubbed, per Trees of the Southeastern United States.
COMPARE
conifers (not including Pines)
)
JK Marlow jkm190914_1567
September Swain County NC
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
)
JK Marlow jkm190914_1568
September Swain County NC
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
)
Ron Lance rwl_abiesfraseri
September Jackson County NC
Mature seed cones erect, cylindrical, about 2.5" long, per Native Trees of the Southeast, An Identification Guide.
COMPARE
cones of Fir, Hemlock and Spruce
)
JK Marlow jkm061104_014
November Swain County NC
)
JK Marlow jkm061104_015b
November Swain County NC
)
L.L. (Chick) Gaddy llg_fraserfirredspruce
Month Unknown
Left: soft balsam-scented needles of Fraser Fir. Right: prickly Red Spruce, per Alpine South: Plants and Plant Communities of the High Elevations of the Southern Appalachians.
WEAKLEY'S FLORA (11/30/12):
Abies fraseri
FAMILY
Pinaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
PLANTS NATIONAL DATABASE:
Abies fraseri
FAMILY
Pinaceae
SYNONYMOUS WITH
VASCULAR FLORA OF THE CAROLINAS (Radford, Ahles, & Bell, 1968) 016-04-001:
Abies fraseri
FAMILY
Pinaceae
8
Tree
Perennial
Monoecious
Native to North Carolina, naturalized in Georgia
Documented growing wild in GA NC -
Rare (a Southern Appalachian endemic)
Look for it in high elevation forests, from about 1500-2037m, per Weakley's Flora
Click here to see a more detailed map from University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Herbarium,
or click here to see a map from SERNEC, a consortium of southeastern herbaria.
LEAVES:
Evergreen
Needles flattened, to 1" long
Needles not in bundles, arranged on all sides of twig
"FLOWER":
Spring/Summer
Unisexual
FRUIT:
Summer/Fall
Perple/Tan-brown
Cone
TO LEARN MORE about this plant, look it up in a good book!
- Landscaping with Native Trees p037
- Native Trees of the Southeast, An Identification Guide p260
- Trees of the Southeastern United States p039
- Woody Plants of the Blue Ridge p02
- Wildflowers & Plant Communities of the Southern Appalachian Mountains and Piedmont p219
- Woody Plants of the Southeastern US: A Winter Guide p043