Editing Fir (section)

=== 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>