We almost automatically associate the Christmas tree with the winter holidays. Whether we're decorating a plastic copy or a resinous species brought in from northern European farms, the question is always: You decorated the tree? This is only natural because the first tree decorated for Christmas was a Black Forest fir. It was chosen because its needle-like leaves remained on the branches long after it had dried, the Christmas tree, placed indoors in the warmth, remained green. But over time, the original silver tree was replaced by Nordmann fir tree, a species native to Georgia with thicker, sturdier and stronger branches. But we'll stick to the silver fir, which is what we'll be talking about next.
A tree specific to the mountainous regions of Europe, used in construction since ancient times
Abies albaknown as silver fir or simply bradIt is native to Europe. In searches you can find it in Italian as Norway spruce (abezzo, avezzo), weistanne (edeltanne, silbertanne) in German, silver fir (or just fir) in French and silver fir (Norway spruce) in Spanish.
The fir's range stretches from the Pyrenees to the Carpathians and from Normandy to southern Italy, Bulgaria and Greece. Fir forests in the Black Forest mountains of Germany have supplied timber for building since the Middle Ages. From the same forests, whole trunks of fir came to the Netherlands in the 18th and 19th centuries to be used as masts for ships. For this reason it was also known as Dutch fir. Intense logging, slower growth and less resistance to pollution led to a decline in the proportion of fir in favor of the faster-growing and more resistant spruce. In recent times, however, the soil-fixing properties of fir have led to its use in reforestation as a mixture species.
In our country, the Eastern Carpathians represent the eastern European limit for fir trees. Here it grows alone or together with spruce and fagul and are found from 400 m to 1200 m above sea level. There are also firs in the Apuseni and Southern Carpathians where they can reach over 1700 m. They are lowest in the Nera valley where they thrive at altitudes below 200 m. The area covered by firs in the whole forest is 5%, being the second conifer species after spruce.
A tall tree dominating the heights
The fir is a long-lived species that can live up to 600 years. It grows 40-50 m tall, sometimes reaching 60 m and even more, with a straight, thick trunk 1.5 m in diameter. The root is taprooted, but with time the lateral growth develops better which makes it very well anchored in the ground and also soil-fixing. This is one of the characteristics that distinguishes it from spruce, which has a weaker hold in the soil, making it easily blown down by strong winds.
The trunk is covered with a gray bark, hence the name silver fir, which is smooth when the tree is young and becomes scaly as it ages. Under the bark are pockets of resin which, as the bark cracks, begin to leak. The branches are arranged horizontally around the trunk, forming a pyramidal crown that becomes wider at the bottom when mature.
The leaves are needle-shaped, 1.8-3 cm long and 2 mm wide, dark green and glossy on the front with 2 white stripes on the back. They are arranged on either side of the branch, the only resinous with such an arrangement, the others having needles around the branch. The leaves last on the twig for 6 to 15 years, remaining much attached even after complete drying.
It has both male and female flowers, the latter developing cones, 10-20 cm long and 3-4 cm wide. The cones are cylindrical, upright (erect), covered with scales which split open at maturity and release the seeds which are attached to a wing. The seeds are very hardy and can stay in the ground for over a hundred years before sprouting. The fir is also one of the species that needs the least amount of light to germinate (approx. 1%), which is why it is planted in mixed forests, where young trees can wait in the shade of old ones for more than 100 years.
Fir wood: characteristics and properties
It is a species with light-colored wood, hence the name abies alba (white fir). In cross-section there is no clear distinction between sapwood and heartwood. The color is whitish, slightly pinkish and darkens slightly as the tree matures. Annual rings are visible, the latewood zone being darker in color with gradual transition between early and latewood.
Texture is fine to medium, depending on growth rate. The fiber is straight, uniform, with medium-sized tracheid diameter. There are no resin canals in the wood mass, the resin is only under the bark. It is the essential difference between fir and spruce wood, one of the few distinguishing characteristics. In fir trees, the resin only accidentally appears inside, unless the tree is wounded during growth and the resin intervenes to repair the wound.
Fir wood has a medium density, in a completely dry state it is 415 kg/m³. There are no problems with drying, unless it shows wet heartwood when water accumulates inside the tree. It is not a durable wood, being easily attacked by fungi and insects, with low rot resistance. However, it impregnates easily and so its outdoor resistance is greatly increased. It is easy to work, both by hand and mechanically, glues and finishes smoothly. When processed mechanically it does not give off any specific odor, unlike resinous species such as pin or larch. The staining is the same as for other resinous woods, the use of an ordinary wood stain gives a negative staining (the dark wood remains lighter in color while the lighter colored wood remains darker).
Surface sanding is more difficult because the wood has grown faster and is more loose. The knots are fewer than in spruce and pine, and it is more difficult to unroll or cut for veneers, resulting in thicker, technical veneers in particular. There is a tendency to crack when hammering nails and low resistance to pulling nails and screws.
Used in construction, furniture, pulp and paper making
Fir wood has very similar uses to spruce, and it is difficult to distinguish between them. Sometimes microscopic analysis is needed to identify the species. Being light and having good compressive and bending strengths, it is used in construction for timber-framed houses or round timber or log houses, for weatherboarding, panelling, beams or planks. It is used to make doors and windows.
It is not recommended for outdoor use without impregnation or treatments that increase its resistance to water, insects and fungi. Pressure impregnation with specific substances, followed by surface treatments, greatly increases the resistance of fir wood and can be used for unprotected exterior constructions.
It is used to make furniture and is especially preferred for rustic furniture. Special finishes can ennoble wood that is not as highly prized as hardwood. nuc, oak or ulm. It is a good material for interior floors.
Fir wood is used in plywood, chipboard, chipboard, MDF, pulp and paper.
Not only the wood is used from the fir tree, but also the resin and buds from which volatile oils with a specific scent are extracted or used in herbal remedies (especially for colds and sore throats). Trees are planted to fix soil at risk of sliding. The seeds, hidden for years under the carpet of needles, are a veritable seed bank for the future forest.
I hope you find the information interesting. As always, additions are welcome. And if you have any questions or queries, please leave them below in the dedicated space. I'll be sure to reply.
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