Common Name(s): Fir
Distribution: Primarily in mountainous/high-altitude regions worldwide
Genus Size: About 50 species
Mechanical Characteristics: Low density and hardness; generally good strength-to-weight ratio.
Visual Characteristics: Generally very light-colored reddish heartwood that isn’t well demarcated from the sapwood.
Identification: Although Abies is in the Pinaceae family, firs lack resin canals—except in the case of trauma. Hemlock (Tsuga spp.) is difficult to differentiate from fir species: both have similar color, grain, and weight. Both lack resin canals and have little to no discernible scent. Spruce (Picea spp.) and pine (Pinus spp.) are two similar-looking softwoods that can also be confused with fir. However, these two genera both feature resin canals (and pine has a distinct odor), which helps to separate them from fir.
Species listing