Abies lasiocarpa - Subalpine Fir

Habitat

Exposition

Toutes expositions

Humidité

Humidité moyenne.

Sol

Tous sols. Tolère les sols très argileux. Tolère les sols pauvres.

pH

Non calcaire

Rusticité

Zone 5

Habitat originel

Often found in poor and rocky soils[229], it is rarely seen below 600 metres. It grows in forests right up to the timber line where it is no more than a shrub on exposed slopes at high altitudes[226].

Origine géographique

Western N. America - Alaska to Arizona and New Mexico.

Comestibilité

• The shoot tips are used as a tea substitute [177, 183].
• The cones can be ground into a fine powder, then mixed with fat and used as a confection [257].
• It is said to be a delicacy and an aid to the digestion [257].
• The resin from the trunk is used as a chewing gum [257].
• It is said to treat bad breath [257].
• Inner bark [257].
• No more information is given, but inner bark is often dried, ground into a powder and then used with cereal flours when making bread etc [K].
• Seeds [257].
• No more information is given, but the seeds are very small and fiddly to use .
• Seeds of this genus are generally oily with a resinous flavour and can be eaten raw or cooked [K].

Usages médicinaux

• Antiseptic [46, 61].
• The gummy exudate that appears on the bark was soaked in water until soft and then applied to wounds [213].
• An infusion of the resin has been used as an emetic to cleanse the insides [257].
• The resin has also been chewed to treat bad breath [257].
• A decoction of the bark is used as a tonic and in the treatment of colds and flu [257].
• A poultice of the leaves has been used to treat chest colds and fevers [257].
• An infusion has been taken to treat the coughing up of blood, which can be the first sign of TB, and as a laxative [257].

Autres usages

• The fragrant young leaves and twigs are used to repel moths or are burnt as an incense [46, 61, 169, 257].
• They were also ground into a powder and used to make a baby powder and perfumes [226, 257].
• A gum is obtained from the bark .
• It is antiseptic[46, 61] and was chewed by the N. American Indians in order to clean the teeth [226].
• It was also used to plug holes in canoes [226].
• An infusion of the leaves is used as a hair tonic [257].
• The leaves can also be placed in the shoes as a foot deodorant [257].
• Wood - light, soft, not strong .
• It is little used except as a fuel and for pulp [46, 61, 82].
• The native North American Indians used it for making chairs and insect-proof storage boxes [257].
• It was also used as a fuel and was said to burn for a long time [257].

Culture

• Prefers a good moist but not water-logged soil [1].
• Pousse bien dans les sols très argileux .
• Very shade tolerant, especially when young, but growth is slower in dense shade [81].
• Intolerant of atmospheric pollution [1].
• Prefers slightly acid conditions down to a pH of about 5 [200].
• Prefers growing on a north-facing slope [200].
• Occasionally planted for timber in N. Europe[50] but this species does not thrive in Britain [11].
• It is a very cold-hardy tree but the milder winters of this country make it susceptible to damage by aphis and late frosts [1, 11, 81].
• The sub-species A. lasiocarpa arizonica .
• (Merriam.)Lemmon. is growing somewhat better here [185].
• Trees should be planted into their permanent positions when they are quite small, between 30 and 90cm in height .
• Les arbres trop âgés se porteront mal et ne se développeront pas pendant plusieurs années .
• Cela affecte aussi dramatiquement le dévelopement des racines et la résistance au vent [200].
• Plants are strongly outbreeding, self-fertilized seed usually grows poorly [200].
• Ils s'hybrident librement avec les autres membres du genre [200].
• The crushed foliage has a balsam aroma [185].

Propagation

• Seed - sow early February in a greenhouse or outdoors in March [78].
• Germination is often poor, usually taking about 6 - 8 weeks [78].
• Stratification is said to produce a more even germination so it is probably best to sow the seed in a cold frame as soon as it is ripe in the autumn [80, 113].
• The seed remains viable for up to 5 years if it is well stored [113].
• When large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and grow them on for at least their first winter in pots .
• Plantez les à leurs positions définitives à la fin du printemps ou au début de l'été, après les dernières gelées .
• Alternatively, if you have sufficient seed, it is possible to sow in an outdoor seedbed .
• One report says that it is best to grow the seedlings on in the shade at a density of about 550 plants per square metre[78] whilst another report says that they are best grown on in a sunny position [80].