Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir., Pinaceae

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Present on Pacific Islands?  no

Primarily a threat at high elevations?  yes

Risk assessment results:  Evaluate, score: 3 (Go to the risk assessment)

Common name(s): [more details]

English: Fraser balsam fir, Fraser fir, balsam fir, eastern fir, southern balsam, southern fir

Habit:  tree

Description:  "Trees to 25m; trunk to 0.75 m in diameter; crown spirelike. Bark gray, thin, smooth, with age developing appressed reddish scales at trunk base. Branches diverging from trunk at right angles; twigs opposite, pale yellow-brown, pubescence reddish. Buds exposed, light brown, conic, small, resinous, apex acute; basal scales short, broad, equilaterally triangular, glabrous, resinous, margins entire, apex sharp-pointed. Leaves 1.2-2.5 cm x 1.5-2 mm, 2-ranked, particularly in lower parts of tree, to spiraled, flexible; cross section flat, grooved adaxially; odor turpentine-like, strong; abaxial surface with (8-) 10 (-12) stomatal rows on each side of midrib; adaxial surface dark lustrous green, sometimes slightly glaucous, with 0-3 stomatal rows at midleaf, these more numerous toward leaf apex; apex slightly notched to rounded; resin canals large, ± median, away from margins and midway between abaxial and adaxial epidermal layers. Pollen cones at pollination reddish yellow or yellowish green. Seed cones cylindric, 3.5-6 x 2.5-4 cm, dark purple overlaid with yellowish green bracts, sessile, apex round; scales ca. 0.7-1 x 1-1.3 cm, pubescent; bracts exserted and reflexed over cone scales. Seeds 4-5 x 2-3 mm, body brown; wing about as long as body, purple; cotyledons ca. 5"  (Flora of North America online).

Habitat/ecology:  In the United States (native), "Mountain forests; 1500 m"  (Flora of North America online).

Propagation:  Seed

Native range:  United States (Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia); also cultivated (The PLANTS Database).

Presence:

Pacific Rim
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
Australia Australia (continental)	Australia (continental)	introduced	Randall, R. P. (2007) (p. 13)

Also reported from
Country/Terr./St. & Island group	Location	Cited status & Cited as invasive & Cited as cultivated & Cited as aboriginal introduction?	Reference & Comments
United States (continental except west coast) United States (other states)	United States (other states)	native	U.S. Dept. Agr., Nat. Res. Cons. Serv. (2013) Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia

Control:  If you know of control methods for Abies fraseri, please let us know.