Editing Fir (section)

== Description ==

=== Leaves ===<!-- Fir needle redirects here. -->
<gallery>
Abies alba PID1015-3.jpg|''[[Abies alba|A. alba]]'' – the underside of leaves have two whitish strips formed by [[wax]]-covered [[stoma]]tal bands, while their bases are shaped like suction cups.
Abies grandis 5359.JPG|''[[Abies grandis|A. grandis]]'' foliage – upper side of the leaves, showing the leaves lying flat either side of the shoot
Punta de rama pinsapo (Abies pinsapo) (8620598021).jpg|Foliage of ''[[Abies pinsapo|A. pinsapo]]'' showing the radial leaf arrangement in this species
File:Abies mariesii2.JPG|Most firs are inbetween the two extremes of flat and radial, with an intermediate arrangement, often with longer leaves at the sides, and shorter leaves above the shoot; here, ''[[Abies mariesii|A. mariesii]]'' in Japan
</gallery>

Firs can be distinguished from other members of the pine family by the unique attachment of their needle-like [[leaves]] to the twig by a base that resembles a small [[suction cup]]. The leaves are significantly flattened, sometimes even looking like they are pressed, as in ''[[Abies sibirica|A.&nbsp;sibirica]]''.

The leaves have two whitish lines on the bottom, each of which is formed by [[wax]]-covered [[stoma]]tal bands. In most species, the upper surface of the leaves is uniformly green and shiny, without [[stoma]]ta or with a few on the tip, visible as whitish spots. Other species have the upper surface of leaves dull, greyish green or bluish to silvery ([[glaucous]]), coated by wax with variable number of [[stoma]]tal bands, and not always continuous. An example species with shiny green leaves is ''[[Abies alba|A.&nbsp;alba]]'', and an example species with matt waxy leaves is ''[[Abies concolor|A.&nbsp;concolor]]''.

The tips of leaves are usually more or less notched (as in ''[[Abies firma|A.&nbsp;firma]]''), but sometimes rounded or dull (as in ''[[Abies concolor|A.&nbsp;concolor]]'', ''[[Abies magnifica|A.&nbsp;magnifica]]'') or sharp and prickly (as in ''[[Abies bracteata|A.&nbsp;bracteata]]'', ''[[Abies cephalonica|A.&nbsp;cephalonica]]'', ''[[Abies holophylla|A.&nbsp;holophylla]]''). The leaves of young plants are usually sharper.

The leaves are arranged spirally on the shoots, but by being twisted at their base, the way they spread from the shoot is diverse; in some species comb-like ('pectinate'), with the leaves flat on either side of the shoot (e.g. ''[[Abies alba|A.&nbsp;alba]]'', ''[[Abies grandis|A.&nbsp;grandis]]''), in others, the leaves remain radial (e.g. ''[[Abies pinsapo|A.&nbsp;pinsapo]]'')<ref name="Seneta81" />

Foliage in the upper crown on cone-bearing branches is different, with the leaves shorter, curved, and sometimes sharp.<ref name="Arno-2020">{{Cite book |last1=Arno |first1=Stephen F. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qDD4DwAAQBAJ |title=Northwest Trees: Identifying & Understanding the Region's Native Trees |last2=Hammerly |first2=Ramona P. |publisher=[[Mountaineers Books]] |year=2020 |isbn=978-1-68051-329-5 |edition=field guide |location=Seattle |pages=125 |language=en |oclc=1141235469 |orig-date=1977 |access-date=2022-02-26 |archive-date=2023-09-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230919000929/https://books.google.com/books?id=qDD4DwAAQBAJ |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Cones ===
<gallery>
Abies cone & bits.jpg|Intact and disintegrated [[Abies borisii-regis|Bulgarian fir]] cones
Abies holophylla Manchurian Fir cones.jpg|Immature cones of some species are green; here [[Abies holophylla|Manchurian fir]] ''Abies holophylla''
Manchurian Fir Abies holophylla disintegrating cones.jpg|Disintegrating cones of Manchurian fir
Abies pindrow India3.jpg|[[Abies pindrow|Pindrow fir]] ''Abies pindrow'' with dark purple cones
Caucasian Fir, young cultivated tree with cones, Northumberland.jpg|[[Abies nordmanniana|Caucasian Fir]] ''Abies nordmanniana'' young cones with reddish scales and yellow-green bracts
Noble Fir, young naturalised tree with cones, Northumberland.jpg|[[Abies procera|Noble fir]] ''Abies procera'', with five heavy (20&nbsp;cm, approx 0.5&nbsp;kg each) cones, three erect, and two hanging where their weight has caused the branch to twist
</gallery>

Firs differ from other conifers in having erect, cylindrical [[Conifer cone|cones]] {{convert|5|-|25|cm|in|0|abbr=on}} long that disintegrate at maturity to release the winged [[seed]]s. In contrast to [[spruce]]s, fir cones are erect; they do not hang, unless heavy enough to twist the branch with their weight.

The mature cones are usually brown. When young in summer, they can be green:
:''[[Abies grandis|A. grandis]]'', ''[[Abies holophylla|A. holophylla]]''

or reddish:
:''[[Abies alba|A.&nbsp;alba]]'', ''[[Abies cephalonica|A.&nbsp;cephalonica]]'', ''[[Abies nordmanniana|A.&nbsp;nordmanniana]]''

or bloomed pale glaucous or pinkish:
:''[[Abies numidica|A.&nbsp;numidica]]'', ''[[Abies pinsapo|A.&nbsp;pinsapo]]''

or purple to blue, sometimes very dark blue, almost black:
:''[[Abies forrestii|A.&nbsp;forrestii]]'', ''[[Abies fraseri|A.&nbsp;fraseri]]'', ''[[Abies homolepis|A.&nbsp;homolepis]]'', ''[[Abies lasiocarpa|A.&nbsp;lasiocarpa]]'', ''[[Abies pindrow|A.&nbsp;pindrow]]''.

Many species are [[polymorphism (biology)|polymorphic]] in cone colour, with different individuals of the same species producing either green or purple cones:
:''[[Abies concolor|A.&nbsp;concolor]]'', ''[[Abies koreana|A.&nbsp;koreana]]'' (usually purple, rarely green, such as the [[cultivar]] 'Flava'), ''[[Abies magnifica|A.&nbsp;magnifica]]'' (usually green, occasionally purple), ''[[Abies nephrolepis|A.&nbsp;nephrolepis]]'' (f.&nbsp;''chlorocarpa'' green), ''[[Abies sibirica|A.&nbsp;sibirica]]'', ''[[Abies veitchii|A.&nbsp;veitchii]]'' (f.&nbsp;''olivacea'' green)<ref name="Seneta81" />

The cone scale bracts can be short and hidden in the mature cone, or long and exposed ('exserted'); this can vary even within a species, e.g. in ''[[Abies magnifica]]'' var. ''magnifica'', the bracts are hidden, but in var. ''critchfieldii'' and var. ''shastensis'', they are exserted. The bracts scales are often a different colour to the cone scales, which can make for a very attractive combination valued in ornamental trees.