Abies grandis (grand fir, giant fir, lowland white fir, great silver fir, western white fir, Vancouver fir, or Oregon fir) is a fir native to northwestern North America, occurring at altitudes of sea level to . It is a major constituent of the Grand Fir/Douglas Fir Ecoregion of the Cascade Range.
The tree typically grows to in height, and may be the tallest Abies species in the world. There are two varieties, the taller coast grand fir, found west of the Cascade Mountains, and the shorter interior grand fir, found east of the Cascades. It was first described in 1831 by David Douglas. The bark is thick, reddish to gray (but purple within), furrowed, and divided into slender plates.
Taxonomy
The species was first described by Scottish botanical explorer David Douglas, who in 1830 brought its seeds back to Britain;
The foliage has an attractive citrus-like scent. It is sometimes used for Christmas decorations in the United States, including Christmas trees, although its stiff branches do not allow it to be economically packed.
References
External links
- Interactive Distribution Map
- CalFlora Database