[True Firs: The Genus Abies in the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

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)

Subalpine fir as seen atop Bull Run Mountain, Bull Run Wilderness........September 14, 2018.

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 above 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.

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.

Pollen cones 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) - Pollen cones 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)

Two close-up views of the male pollen cones of subalpine fir as seen near the summit of Lookout Mountain, Badger Creek Wilderness......July 30, 2021.

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)

Female cones of subalpine fir spotted in forest openings above the Mount Hood Meadows Ski Area, Mount Hood National Forest......July 4, 2021.

Close-up view of the needles on the underside of a branch 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) - Top of a young 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)

A young subalpine fir encroaching into Grand Meadows, Indian Heaven Wilderness.....September 15, 2023.

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, Mount Adams Wilderness..........August 19, 2013.

Paul Slichter