Tips for identifying firs: linear needles, flat in cross-section (in contrast to angular spruce), twigs smooth, leaf scars more or less circular, cones upright with scales that fall off at maturity
Size: tree, 100' average height at maturity
Buds: small, few scales, not resinous
Leaves: evergreen, spreading horizontally along branches, .5-1.25" long, .06-.08" wide, linear, tips rounded or blunt, notched, shiny dark green above, 2 white bands of stomata below
Twigs: gray-brown, pubescent when young
Flowers: monoecious, males in pendent catkins, females ovoid or oblong
Fruit: green cones maturing to brown, 4.5-6" long, 1.5-2" wide
Bark: grayish, smooth, scaly on old trees
