A fir is a tree that is part of the family group of Pinaceae,
A fir is a tree that belongs to the family Abietaceae or Pinaceae . It is a genus ( Abies ) that includes more than fifty species, including primary species and secondary species.
It is important to know the etymological origin of this word. This leads us to determine that it derives from the Latin abies – abietis , which was what a plant species from the Pinacea family was formerly called.
Characteristics of fir trees
Fir trees are characterized by their great height : they can exceed 50 meters and reach, in certain cases, up to 80 meters . Its trunk, which has a whitish bark , grows straight and ends in a conical cup. The fruit of the fir tree is a cylindrical pine cone .
The usual thing is that the fir grows on high ground and in a rather cold climate. It is possible to find fir trees in forests in North America , Europe , and Asia . Due to their characteristics, fir trees resemble cedars.
Its wood
It should be noted that fir wood is used in construction despite not having much resistance capacity.
Its color and size, however, make it valuable for the development of frames and doors. When installed outdoors, on the other hand, fir wood has reduced durability as it usually suffers rapid rotting processes or is attacked by insects.
It is common for fir trees to be used as Christmas trees.
The Christmas fir
In many countries , fir trees are used as Christmas trees . In this way, they are decorated with ornaments, garlands and lights.
Tradition indicates that the Christmas fir tree is decorated on December 8 ( Day of the Virgin or Immaculate Conception ) and remains decorated until January 6 ( Three Kings' Day ).
Other information of interest
In addition to all of the above, it is worth highlighting other characteristics of the fir, among which the following stand out:
- It produces odorous resin in considerable quantities.
- The leaves it has are flat, are quite rigid and are also identified by their small size. Precisely these hallmarks are what make many people consider that they are beautiful from an aesthetic point of view and that, therefore, fir trees are the best options to give vitality and elegance to their gardens.
- Since the 8th century, this tree has been considered sacred , as was determined by Saint Boniface when in an act of force that he carried out with trees, the only one who managed not to fall was the one in question. This perhaps explains the fact that it is used to decorate homes at Christmas , when the birth of Jesus is celebrated.
- It has a great capacity to adapt to both climate and soil type. Hence, it is established that its care and maintenance is very easy. However, it is advisable that it be located on land with notable humidity, making it an ideal tree for high mountain areas.