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See FIR for the three letter acronym.
Firs (Abies) are a genus of between 45-55 species of evergreen conifers in the family Pinaceae. All are trees, reaching heights of 10-80 m tall and trunk diameters of 0.5-4 m when mature. Firs can be distinguished from other members of the pine family by the fact that their needle-like leaves are attached to the twig by a base that resembles a small suction cup, and by erect, cylindrical cones 5-25 cm long that disintegrate at maturity to release the winged seeds. Identification of the species is based on the size and arrangement of the leaves, and the size and shape of the cones, and whether the bract scales of the cones are long and exserted, or short and hidden inside the cone. They are most closely related to the cedars (Cedrus). Firs are found through much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, occurring in mountains over most of the range.
Firs are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Chionodes abella (recorded on White Fir), Autumnal Moth, Conifer Swift (a pest of Balsam Fir), The Engrailed, Grey Pug, Mottled Umber and Pine Beauty.
Douglas-firs are not true firs, being of the genus Pseudotsuga.
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Fir
Classification
Uses
| | Name | Abies - firs | | image |  | | Regnum | Plantae | | Divisio | Pinophyta | | Classis | Pinophyta | | Ordo | Pinales | | Familia | Pinaceae | | Genus | Abies | | Genus Authority | Philip Miller | | Subdivision Ranks | Species | | Subdivision | Species |
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Classification
Section Balsamea (Taiga|boreal Asia and North America, and high mountains further south)
Abies balsamea var. phanerolepis - Bracted Balsam Fir
Abies lasiocarpa var. arizonica - Corkbark Fir
Abies veitchii var. sikokiana - Shikoku Fir
Section Grandis (western North America to Mexico and Guatemala, lowlands in north, moderate altitudes in south)
Abies grandis var. idahoensis - Interior Grand Fir or Giant Fir
Abies concolor subsp. lowiana - Low's White Fir
Abies durangensis var. coahuilensis - Coahuila Fir
Section Abies (central, south & east Europe, Asia Minor)
Abies nordmanniana subsp. equi-trojani - Turkish Fir
Section Piceaster (southern Spain, northwest Africa)
Abies pinsapo var. marocana - Moroccan Fir
Section Momi (east & central Asia, Himalaya, generally at low to moderate altitudes)
Abies recurvata var. ernestii - Min Fir
Abies chensiensis subsp. salouenensis - Salween Fir
Section Amabilis (Pacific coast mountains, North America and Japan, in high rainfall mountains)
Section Oiamel (Mexico, high altitudes in mountains)
Abies vejarii var. mexicana - Mexican Fir
Abies hickelii var. oaxacana - Oaxaca Fir
Section Nobilis (western USA, high altitudes)
Abies magnifica var. shastensis - Shasta Red Fir
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Uses
The wood of most firs is considered inferior, and is often used as pulp or for the manufacture of plywood and rough timber. Nordmann Fir, Noble Fir, Fraser Fir and Balsam Fir are very popular Christmas trees, generally considered to be the best trees for this purpose, with their aromatic foliage that does not shed many needles on drying out. Many are also very decorative garden trees, notably Korean Fir and Fraser Fir, which produce their brightly coloured cones even when very young, still only 1-2 m tall.
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