Abies Magnifica (California red fir)

Scientific Name
Abies magnifica

Trade Name
California red fir

Family Name
Pinaceae

Common Names
California red fir, Fir, Golden fir, Red fir, Shasta fir, Shasta red fir, Silvertip, Western fir, White fir

Regions of Distribution
North America

Countries of Distribution  [VIEW MAP]
United States

Common Uses
Beams, Boxes and crates, Building construction, Cabin construction, Casks, Concrete formwork, Construction, Decks, Decorative plywood, Dressed boards, Factory construction, Form work, Foundation posts, Framing, Heavy construction, Joists, Light construction, Lumber, Packing cases, Plywood, Porch columns, Pulp/Paper products, Pulpwood, Rough boards/dimension stock, Rough construction, Structural plywood, Utility plywood

Environmental Profile

Rank of relative endangerment based primarily on the number of occurrences of the species globally

Distribution Overview
In the U.S. and Canada, Subalpine Fir grows naturally in mountains from central Yukon and the eastern parts of southeast Alaska south through Alberta and British Columbia. Also, from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and western Montana south to central Colorado southern New Mexico and southeast Arizona. Locally, it can be found in northeast Nevada and northwest California.

Heartwood Color

The latewood portion of the growth ring is usually tinged with a lavender, roseate, or a reddish brown color

Sapwood Color

Grain

Texture

Natural Durability

Odor

Kiln Schedules

Drying Defects

Ease of Drying

Tree Size

Boring

Gluing

Mortising

Moulding

Nailing

Planing

Resistance to Impregnation

Screwing

Turning

Strength Properties

Numerical Data

References
Boone, R.S., C.J. Kozlik, P.J. Bois, E.M. Wengert. 1988. Dry Kiln Schedules for Commercial Hardwoods – Temperate and Tropical. USDA, Forest Service, General Technical Report FPL-GTR-57, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

Little, E.L. 1980. The Audobon Society Field Guide to North American Trees – Western Region. Published by Alfred A. Knopf, New York.

Panshin, A.J. and C. deZeeuw. Textbook of Wood Technology. McGraw-Hill Series in Forest Resources. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York.

USDA. 1987. Wood Handbook:Wood as an Engineering Material. Agriculture Handbook No. 72. United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Madison, Wisconsin.

USDA. 1988. Dry Kiln Operators Manual, Preliminary Copy. Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin.

Western Wood Products Association. 19__. Softwoods of the Western USA. Published and Distributed by the Western Wood Products Association, Yeon Building, 522 S.W. Fifth Avenue, Portland, Oregon.