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Abies fraseri, commonly known as Fraser's fir, or Fraser fir, is an endangered species of native to the Appalachian Mountains of the southeastern United States. It is to the Appalachian Mountains, where it grows in 48 populations on seven montane regions in the range.


Taxonomy
Abies fraseri is closely related to (balsam fir), of which it has occasionally been treated as a (as A. balsamea subsp. fraseri (Pursh) E.Murray) or a variety (as A. balsamea var. fraseri (Pursh) Spach).Farjon, A. (1990). Pinaceae. Drawings and Descriptions of the Genera. Koeltz Scientific Books .Liu, T.-S. (1971). A Monograph of the Genus Abies. National Taiwan University.Flora of North America: Abies fraseriGymnosperm Database: Abies fraseri Some botanists regard the variety of balsam fir named Abies balsamea var. phanerolepis as a natural hybrid with Abies fraseri, denominated Abies × phanerolepis (Fernald) Liu.


Names
The species Abies fraseri is named after the Scottish botanist John Fraser (1750–1811), who made numerous botanical collections in the region. His name is sometimes misspelled "Frasier", "Frazer" or "Frazier".

In the past, it was also sometimes known as "she-balsam" because resin could be "milked" from its bark blisters,

(2025). 9780807848517, University of North Carolina Press.
p343
in contrast to the "he balsam" (or , the red spruce) which could not be milked. It has also been called southern balsam fir, inviting confusion with A. balsamea.
(1985). 9780394731261, Knopf.
p363


Description
Abies fraseri is a small typically growing to tall, rarely to , with a trunk diameter of . The crown is conical, with straight branches either horizontal to angled upward at up to 40° from the trunk; it is dense when the tree is young and more open in maturity. The bark is thin, smooth, grayish brown, and has numerous blisters on juvenile trees, becoming fissured and scaly in maturity.

The are needle-like; arranged spirally on the twigs but somewhat twisted at their bases to form two rows spreading either side of the twig, with some above the twing but few or none below the twig. They are long and broad, flat, flexible, and rounded or slightly notched at their apices (tips). They are dark to glaucous green adaxially (above), often with a small patch of near their apices; and with two silvery white bands abaxially (on their undersides). Their strong fragrance resembles that of .

The are erect; cylindrical; long, rarely , and broad, rarely broad; dark purple, turning pale brown when mature; often resinous; and with long reflexed green, yellow, or pale purple scales. The cones disintegrate when mature at 4–6 months old to release the winged seeds.


Ecology

Reproduction and growth
Fraser's fir is , with both male and female cones on the same tree. Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir , Silviculture Manual, Volume 1, US Department of Agriculture Forest Service, Retrieved 20 October 2014 The cone buds usually open from mid May to early June. Female cones are borne mostly near the top of the crown and on the distal ends of branches. The male cones are borne below female cones, but mostly in the upper half of the crown. Seed production may begin when trees are 15 years old. Seeds germinate well on mineral soil, moss, peat, decaying stumps and logs, and even on detritus or litter that is sufficiently moist. Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir. The National Christmas Tree Association, Retrieved 20 Oct 2014


Distribution and habitat
Abies fraseri is restricted to the southeastern Appalachian Mountains in southwestern , western and eastern , where it occurs at high elevations, from to the top of the highest summit in the area, , at . It grows in acidic moist but well-drained sandy and is usually mixed with (red spruce). Other trees it grows with include Tsuga caroliniana (Carolina hemlock), Betula alleghaniensis (yellow birch), Betula papyrifera (paper birch), and Https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2017.05.003< /ref>


Pests
Abies fraseri can be severely damaged by a non-native insect, the balsam woolly adelgid ( Adelges piceae) from Europe. The insect's introduction and spread led to a rapid decline in the species across its range, with over 80 percent of mature trees having been killed. The rapid regeneration of seedlings with lack of canopy has led to good regrowth of healthy young trees where the mature forests once stood. These young trees are now old enough for the bark to develop fissures, but despite this, there has been no resurgence by the adelgids.

For this reason, the future of the species was still uncertain, though the (Virginia) population has largely evaded adelgid mortality. The decline in the southern Appalachians has contributed to loss of moss habitat which supports the endangered spruce-fir moss spider ( Microhexura montivaga), an obligate of the Southern Appalachian spruce–fir forest ecoregion.

By the late 1990s, the adelgid population had decreased. While two-thirds of adult trees had been killed by the 1980s, a study of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park showed that as of 2020, the number of adult trees had increased over the previous 30 years, with three times as many on , Tennessee's highest peak.


Threats
Fraser's fir is an endangered species. Threats include and the aforementioned balsam woolly adelgid.


Cultivation and uses
Although not important as a source of timber, the combination of dense natural pyramidal form, strong limbs, soft long-retained needles, dark blue-green color, pleasant scent and excellent shipping characteristics, has led to Fraser's fir being widely used as a .Hendrix, Steve, " A Christmas tree’s remarkable journey", The Washington Post, 21 December 2011. Fraser's fir has been used more times as the White House Christmas tree than any other tree.

The Christmas decoration trade is a multimillion-dollar business in the southern Appalachians. North Carolina produces the majority of Fraser's fir Christmas trees. "Fraser Fir". North Carolina Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 24 November 2010. It requires from seven to ten years in the field to produce a tree. In 2005, the North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation making the Fraser's fir the official Christmas tree of North Carolina.

Fraser's fir is cultivated from seedlings in several northern states and in , especially for the Christmas tree trade. It is also grown in Bedgebury National Pinetum and other collections in the United Kingdom.


See also
  • Appalachian temperate rainforest


External links

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