Abies balsamea

Balsam fir is a North American fir in the pine or Pinaceae family and is native to most of eastern and central Canada and the northeastern United States around the Great Lakes. It reaches a height of up to about 25 m.

• Tree crown is narrow, spire-like.
• Needles are 15–25 mm long, the tips rounded or notched, arranged spirally on the shoot, the needle bases twisted up so the leaves appear to be in two more-or-less horizontal rows on either side of the shoot.
• Needles are attached to the twig by a base resembling a small suction cup.
• The species is monoecious; seed cones are erect, 4–10 cm long, purplish brown, ripening to brown and disintegrating to release the winged seeds in September.
• Buds are oval, resinous; bark on young trees is smooth, grey, and with resin blisters, becoming rough and fissured on old trees.