Abies balsamea or balsam fir is a North American fir, native to most of eastern and central Canada and the northeastern United States.
Abies balsamea
Balsam fir krummholz on Mount Hight, New Hampshire
Bark
Leaves (needles) on symmetrical branchlets
Firs are evergreen coniferous trees belonging to the genus Abies in the family Pinaceae. There are approximately 48–65 extant species, found on mountains throughout much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa. The genus is most closely related to Cedrus (cedar). The genus name is derived from the Latin "to rise" in reference to the height of its species. The common English name originates with the Old Norse, fyri, or the Old Danish, fyr.
Fir
A. alba – the underside of leaves have two whitish strips formed by wax-covered stomatal bands; the bases of the needles are shaped like suction cups.
A. grandis foliage – upper side of the leaves
Atypical A. alba foliage from Dinaric calcareous fir forests on Mt. Orjen