Red fir facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Red fir |
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| Red fir forest, Yosemite National Park | |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Abies
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| Species: |
magnifica
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| Natural range of Abies magnifica | |
The Abies magnifica, often called the red fir or silvertip fir, is a large evergreen tree. It grows in the mountains of southwest Oregon and California in the United States. This tree likes high places, usually found between 1,400 and 2,700 meters (about 4,600 to 8,900 feet) high. The name "red fir" comes from the reddish color of the bark on older trees.
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What Does the Red Fir Look Like?
The red fir is a big evergreen tree. Evergreen means it keeps its leaves all year round. It can grow up to 40 to 60 meters (about 130 to 200 feet) tall. Its trunk can be as wide as 2 meters (about 6.5 feet) across. Some rare red firs have grown even taller, up to 76.5 meters (250 feet) tall.
The tree has a narrow, cone-shaped top, which is called a conic crown. When the tree is young, its bark is smooth and grey. It also has small bumps filled with sticky resin. As the tree gets older, its bark turns orange-red, becomes rough, and has deep cracks.
Red Fir Leaves
The leaves of the red fir are like needles. They are about 2 to 3.5 centimeters (about 1 to 1.4 inches) long. They have a blue-green color on both sides. These leaves have special bands called stomatal bands, which are tiny pores for breathing. The tips of the leaves are pointed.
The leaves grow in a spiral pattern around the branch. They twist slightly to curve upwards, away from the branch.
Red Fir Cones
The cones of the red fir stand upright on the branches. They are quite large, usually 9 to 21 centimeters (about 3.5 to 8 inches) long. When they are young, the cones are yellow-green, but sometimes they can be purple.
As the cones get older, they turn brown. In the fall, they break apart to release their seeds. These seeds have small wings, which help them fly away in the wind.
Types of Red Fir
Scientists usually recognize two main types, or varieties, of red fir. There might even be a third type!
- Abies magnifica var. magnifica, also known as the red fir:
* This type has large cones, about 14 to 21 centimeters (5.5 to 8 inches) long. * The small scales on the cones, called bract scales, are short. You cannot see them when the cone is closed. * This variety is found in most of the red fir's natural area, especially in the Sierra Nevada mountains.
- Abies magnifica var. shastensis, called the Shasta red fir:
* This type also has large cones, 14 to 21 centimeters (5.5 to 8 inches) long. * Its cone bract scales are longer, so you can see them sticking out when the cone is closed. * This variety grows in the northwest part of the red fir's range. This includes southwest Oregon and parts of Shasta, Siskiyou, and Trinity Counties in northwest California.
There is also a possible third type of A. magnifica on the eastern slopes of the southern Sierra Nevada. These trees have long bracts like the Shasta red fir, but their cones are smaller, only 9 to 15 centimeters (3.5 to 6 inches) long. This type has not been officially named yet.
How Red Fir is Related to Other Trees
The red fir is very similar to the noble fir (Abies procera). The noble fir grows further north in the Cascade Range. You can tell them apart by looking closely at their leaves. Noble fir leaves have a small groove along the middle on their top side, but red fir leaves do not.
Also, red fir leaves are usually not packed as tightly on the branch. This means you can often see the bark of the shoot between the leaves. With noble fir, the leaves are so close together that they mostly hide the shoot. Some scientists think that the Shasta red fir (Abies magnifica var. shastensis) might be a natural mix, or hybrid, between the red fir and the noble fir.
First Discovery
The red fir tree was first officially written about by a person named William Lobb. He found it during his trip to California between 1849 and 1853. Another botanist, David Douglas, had been in the area before but had missed seeing this tree.
Uses of Red Fir
The wood from red fir trees is used for many things. It is often used for building materials and for making paper. Because of its shape and smell, it is also a popular choice for a Christmas tree.
See also
In Spanish: Abeto rojo de California para niños
