Inflorescence.—Early spring. Lateral or terminal on shoots of the preceding season; sterile flowers oblong-cylindrical, ¼ inch in length; anthers yellow, red-tinged: fertile flowers on the upper side of the twig, erect, cylindrical; cover-scales broad, much larger than the purple ovuliferous scales, terminating in a long, recurved tip.
Fruit.—Cones along the upper side of the branchlets, erect or nearly so in all stages of growth, purplish when young, 3-5 inches long, 1 inch or more wide; puberulous; cover-scales at maturity much smaller than ovuliferous scales, thin, obovate, serrulate, bristle-pointed; ovuliferous scales thin, broad, rounded; edge minutely erose, serrulate or entire; both kinds of scales falling from the axis at maturity; seeds winged, purplish.
Horticultural Value.—Hardy in New England, but best adapted to the northern sections; grows rapidly in open or shaded situations, especially where there is cool, moist, rich soil; easily transplanted; suitable for immediate effects in forest plantations, but not desirable for a permanent ornamental tree, as it loses the lower branches at an early period. Nurserymen and collectors offer it in quantity at a low price. Propagated from seed.
Plate X.—Abies balsamea.
| 1. Branch with flower-buds. |
| 2. Branch with sterile flowers. |
| 3. Branch with fertile flowers. |
| 4. Cover-scale and ovuliferous scale with ovules, inner side. |
| 5. Fruiting branch. |
| 6. Ovuliferous scales with ovules at maturity, inner side. |
| 7. Cone-scale and ovuliferous scale at maturity, outer side. |
| 8-9. Leaves. |
| 10-11. Cross-sections of leaves. |