Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.
Balsam fir
Balsam fir is native to North America. They can live for up to 200 years. It is found mixed with other trees such as spruce, hemlock, white birch, aspen, and red maple in boreal forests. They are a popular choice for a Christmas tree.
Plants: 46–66′ (14–20 m) tall, up to a maximum of 89′ (27 m). They are conical, and tend to be symmetrical. Bark is thin, smooth, and gray or gray-brown; with resin blisters. On older trees, the bark becomes brown and scaly. Trees reach a diameter of 1–2½′ (30–76 cm).
Leaves: Flat shiny dark green needles ½–⅞″ (1.5–2.5 cm) long. Needle tips may be flat, notched, or rounded. Each needle has pale white bands comprised of tiny dots called stomata. Needles have a distinctive, pleasant aroma when crushed.
Fruits: Cones are 1½–3″ (4–8 cm) long, green aging to dark purple, and drying to brown. Individual seeds are triangular, 1/16–3/16 ⨉ 1/16–⅛″ (3–6 ⨉ 2–3 mm).
Habitats: Glacial, acidic, humusy soils, with abundant rainfall.
Online References:
5/15/2016 · Mt. Watatic, Ashby, Massachusetts 
8/22/2020 · Warbler’s Way, Moose Alley, Hidden Valley Nature Center, Jefferson, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 3½″ (11 × 9.2 cm) 
4/8/2021 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 6 × 10″ (16 × 24 cm) 
6/10/2016 · Lobster Cove Trail, Monhegan Island, Maine · ≈ 12 × 8″ (31 × 20 cm) 
6/16/2013 · Birch Point State Park, Owl’s Head, Maine · ≈ 8 × 6″ (20 × 16 cm) 
9/18/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 4 × 2½″ (10 × 7 cm) 
ID is uncertain 
4/8/2021 · Long Reach Preserve, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 6 × 4″ (16 × 11 cm) 
Notice the bands of white stomata—pores on the needles through which gases are exchanged between the tree and its surroundings. · 5/15/2016 · Mt. Watatic, Ashby, Massachusetts 
8/1/2008 · Cadillac Mountain, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 2 × 1′ (57 × 38 cm) 
7/12/2015 · Mt. Kearsarge, Wilmot/Warner, New Hampshire · ≈ 7 × 8″ (16 × 21 cm) 
9/18/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (47 × 31 cm) ID is uncertain 
4/3/2010 · Owl’s Head Lighthouse, Owl’s Head, Maine · ≈ 2 × 1¼″ (5.3 × 3.5 cm) 
8/30/2020 · Cliff Trail, Harpswell, Maine · ≈ 8 × 5″ (20 × 13 cm) 
8/22/2020 · Warbler’s Way, Moose Alley, Hidden Valley Nature Center, Jefferson, Maine · ≈ 5 × 3½″ (13 × 9.2 cm) 
9/19/2009 · Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Maine · ≈ 1½ × 1′ (52 × 34 cm) ID is uncertain 
6/16/2013 · Birch Point State Park, Owl’s Head, Maine · ≈ 12 × 10″ (31 × 25 cm) 
8/28/2020 · Jack’s and Litchfield Trails, Chase Reserve, Brunswick, Maine · ≈ 4½ × 7″ (12 × 18 cm) 
6/16/2013 · Birch Point State Park, Owl’s Head, Maine · ≈ 15 × 10″ (37 × 25 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Coniferophyta | Conifers—cone-bearing trees (and a few shrubs) |
| Class | Pinopsida | Gymnosperms such as cedars, Douglas-firs, cypresses, firs, junipers, kauri, larches, pines, hemlocks, redwoods, spruces, and yews |
| Order | Pinales | Cone-bearing plants: cedar, cypress, fir, juniper, larch, pine, redwood, spruce, yew, and others |
| Family | Pinaceae | Pine family: cedars, firs, hemlocks, larches, pines and spruces |
| Genus | Abies | Latin name for silver fir |
| Species | balsamea | Contains a resin called Canada balsam |
Abies balsamea description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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