The Daily Insight

Connected.Informed.Engaged.

Firs (Abies) are a genus of 48–56 species of evergreen coniferous trees in the family Pinaceae. They are found through much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, occurring in mountains over most of the range.

Where do Douglas fir trees grow?

Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii, the coast Douglas-fir, grows in the coastal regions from west-central British Columbia southward to central California. In Oregon and Washington, its range is continuous from the eastern edge of the Cascades west to the Pacific Coast Ranges and Pacific Ocean.

Where did fir trees come from?

Although several other coniferous trees are commonly called firs—e.g., the Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga), the hemlock fir (see hemlock), and the joint fir (see Ephedra), true firs are native to North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and northern Africa.

Where do fir trees grow in the US?

Nine species of true firs grow naturally in North America. The most widespread species is balsam fir (Abies balsamea), a prominent tree in boreal and north-temperate forests of eastern Canada and the northeastern United States.

Where are fir trees found in India?

Geography. It is located in the Western Himalayas region of the Himalayan Range System in southern Asia. Himalayan Silver Fir Forests are found from the Gandak River region in Nepal, through the higher elevations of northwestern India, to montane northern Pakistan.

How quickly do fir trees grow?

Firs generally take about 10 years to grow from seed to a size ready for cutting. Often, the taller the tree, the longer it has been growing.

Is fir a pine tree?

Although both fir and pine trees are conifers, bearing cones, and members of the same plant family, Pinaceae, their plant group names are different. Fir trees are members of the genus Abies; whereas pine trees belong to Pinus.

What state grows the most fir trees?

“Where can you grow trees?” Norby said. “Oregon has a climate that supports the types of trees you’d want for Christmas trees up there in the hills. North Carolina does, too. It’s all of those mountain states.”

Can fir trees grow human lungs?

The 2-inch tree was found by surgeons when they opened up Artyom Sidorkin, 28, according to Reuters. Doctors claim Sidorkin may have inhaled a seed, which then sprouted into a small fir tree inside his lung. … The tree was discovered when surgeons took a biopsy before attempting to remove the man’s lung.

Can a fir tree grow in your lungs?

Russian surgeons said what they first believed was a tumor in a man’s lungs turned out to be a living, growing fir tree, according to reports in the Russian media. The doctors said they found a tree measuring nearly 2 inches long inside the lung tissues of 28-year-old Artyom Sidorkin.

Article first time published on

How old do fir trees live?

Firs are long-lived, on average achieving reproductive maturity at 20 years, with an average life-span of 60 years. Fir trees in excess of 400 years old have been recorded in several species, and noble firs 600 to 700 years old are known.

Do fir trees have fruit?

Fir Tree Cones Identification The cones are the fruit of the conifers and fir cones tend to grow straight upward from the branches. Growing on the fir trees, these cones can resemble candles on a Christmas tree.

Why are fir trees used for Christmas?

Pagans used branches to decorate their homes during the winter solstice, as it made them think of the spring to come. Romans used fir trees to decorate their homes for the New Year. Christians used evergreens as a sign of everlasting life with God. Fir trees were first used as Christmas trees.

How big does a fir tree grow?

They are large trees, reaching heights of 10–80 m (33–262 ft) tall with trunk diameters of 0.5–4 m (1 ft 8 in–13 ft 1 in) when mature.

Are fir trees poisonous?

Christmas trees such as firs, pines and cedar can cause drooling in pets and vomiting in children. Although this may sound alarming, a child or pet would have to consume a considerable amount to get sick. According to HousePlant411, trees can become more toxic if they are sprayed with a fire retardant.

Do fir trees have leaves?

Like deciduous trees, conifers can be identified by their “leaves.” The “leaves” of conifers are of course their needles. … Spruce and fir trees have their needles attached individually to the branches.

Are fir trees edible?

Conifer is the broad name for cone bearing trees, and lots of species of conifers are edible, namely pines, spruce, and fir. When it comes to pines, you can eat every part of them, from the pine nuts, to the bark, to the needles.

How do you grow a fir tree?

Firs require well-drained soil; loosen compacted earth before planting. Depending on the species, a fir tree can thrive in cool, moist climates in USDA growing zones 3 to 8. The optimal time to plant a fir tree is when it is dormant, in late autumn or winter.

Where do pine and fir trees grow?

Pines are naturally found almost exclusively in the Northern Hemisphere. They are found through much of North America, China, South-East Asia, Russia and Europe and have one of the largest distributions of any conifer family. Pine trees are the dominant plants in many cool-temperate and boreal forests.

How tall is a 30 year old Douglas fir?

Grow Douglas fir trees and earn a 300 percent return in 30 years. Tree farmers can earn 300 percent return growing Douglas fir trees based on a $0.38 cent price for each seedling, a growth cycle of 30 years and a knot-free sawlog that is 12 inches wide and 30 feet tall.

What is the fastest growing fir tree?

Make it quick with the Murray Cypress. One of the fastest-growing evergreen trees, the Murray Cypress (Cupressocyparis x leylandi ‘Murray’) can spurt up to 4 feet in a single year until it reaches a mature height of 30 to 40 feet and a base width of 10 feet.

How do you take care of a fir tree?

Douglas fir tree care includes providing irrigation in the summer. You’ll need to water between one and four times each month, depending on rainfall and how the soil holds water. You’ll do best planting a Douglas fir tree in a shady area. Either part shade or full shade will work fine.

Can an apple grow in your stomach?

Some of them, like the apple seed, are toxic. Apples, along with more than 2,000 other plant species, produce cyanogenic glycosides. … The possibility of seeds germinating and growing in the stomach is zero.

Can pine trees grow inside you?

True pine trees don’t do well as houseplants, though some potted pines can be brought indoors for several weeks each year to serve as holiday decorations. Yet at least one member of an ancient family of tropical evergreen conifers does fine indoors, assuming sufficient light and humidity.

Can a tree grow inside someone?

A fir tree has been found growing inside a man’s lung by surgeons who were operating on him for suspected cancer. … Medical staff believe that Mr Sidorkin somehow inhaled a seed, which later sprouted into a small fir tree inside his lung.

What is the Christmas capital of the world?

Copenhagen, Denmark. Many consider Copenhagen to be the Christmas Capital of the World, due largely to the city’s genuine love for all that is jolly and bright during the holiday season.

Where are Xmas trees grown?

Oregon, North Carolina, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, Washington, New York, and Virginia are the top Christmas tree producing states. 350,000 acres of land in the United States are in production for growing Christmas trees. Christmas trees are grown and harvested in all 50 states.

Which state grows most Christmas trees?

While Christmas Trees are grown for sale in 47 U.S. states, the top five tree-producing states in 2014 were as follows: Oregon (8.5 million), North Carolina (5.4 million), Michigan (1.3 million), Pennsylvania (839,000), Wisconsin (657,000).

What is the difference between a fir tree and a pine tree?

If a twig bears needles in groups of two, three, or five, you can safely call it a pine. If the twig carries its needles singly, it’s a good bet you’ve got a fir or a spruce. … If it feels flat and doesn’t roll easily, it’s a fir. If the needle has four sides and, thus, rolls easily between your fingers, it’s a spruce.

Has anyone ever had a plant grow inside them?

A Massachusetts man who was rushed to hospital with a collapsed lung came home with an unusual diagnosis: a pea plant was growing in his lung. Ron Sveden had been battling emphysema for months when his condition deteriorated. … Mr Sveden said the plant was about half an inch (1.25cm) in size.

Why do trees look like lungs?

Globally, trees are often recognized as the ‘lungs of the world’ because they exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide with the atmosphere. … Similarly, trees are like the intestines of the world exchanging nutrients between the soil and the vegetation, fueling the nutrient and carbon cycle.