Abies magnifica

Abies magnifica, commonly called red fir or California red fir, is a large evergreen conifer in the family Pinaceae, order Pinales. It is native to the Sierra Nevada and southern Cascade Range of California and Oregon, where it typically grows at elevations of 1,500 to 2,700 meters in the subalpine zone. Red fir is named for the reddish-brown bark of mature trees, which becomes deeply furrowed into thick, corky ridges — a distinguishing feature from other western firs. It is among the most massive of the true firs, commonly reaching 30 to 50 meters in height with trunk diameters exceeding 1.5 meters. The crown is narrowly conic in young trees, developing a more cylindrical form with age. Needles are four-sided and curved upward, bluish-green to gray-green, with stomatal bands on all surfaces giving an overall glaucous appearance. This species produces the largest cones in the genus Abies found in North America: cylindrical, erect, reddish-brown or purplish, measuring 12 to 23 centimeters in length. Cones disintegrate at maturity, releasing winged seeds. The red fir forest zone, sometimes called the red fir belt, represents a distinct ecological community with heavy winter snowpack and a short growing season. The species provides critical habitat for the California spotted owl and other wildlife. Timber harvesting of red fir occurred historically for construction lumber, though much of its range is now within national parks and wilderness areas.