 The balsam fir, Abies balsamea, is a small- to medium-sized evergreen CONIFER tree of the northern forest regions of North America. It belongs to the PINE family, Pinaceae, and grows in Canada from Labrador to Alberta and, in the United States, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, northern Pennsylvania, New York, and the New England states. Highly resistant to damage by cold, this tree cannot stand hot, dry summers and will seldom survive being brought to elevations much below its natural mountain habitat. Balsam fir is short-lived, often decaying after 70 to 80 years.
Canada balsam, a liquid resin, is collected from the bark blisters of balsam fir and is used to mount specimens on microscope slides. Balsam fir is also a popular Christmas tree. |
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