Trees to 20 m; trunk to 80 cm diam.; crown spirelike. Bark gray, thin, smooth, furrowed in age. Branches stiff, straight; twigs opposite to whorled, greenish gray to light brown, bark splitting as early as 2 years to reveal red-brown layer, somewhat pubescent; fresh leaf scars with red periderm. Buds hidden by leaves or exposed, tan to dark brown, nearly globose, small, resinous, apex rounded; basal scales short, broad, equilaterally triangular, glabrous or with a few trichomes at base, not resinous, margins crenate to dentate, apex sharp-pointed. Leaves 1.8-3.1 cm × 1.5-2 mm, spiraled, turned upward, flexible; cross section flat, prominently grooved adaxially; odor sharp (ß-phellandrene); abaxial surface with 4-5 stomatal rows on each side of midrib; adaxial surface bluish green, very glaucous, with 4-6 stomatal rows at midleaf, rows usually continuous to leaf base; apex prominently or weakly notched to rounded; resin canals large, ± median, away from margins and midway between abaxial and adaxial epidermal layers. Pollen cones at pollination ± purple to purplish green. Seed cones cylindric, 6-12 × 2-4 cm, dark purple, sessile, apex rounded; scales ca. 1.5 × 1.7 cm, densely pubescent; bracts included (specimens with exserted, reflexed bracts are insect infested). Seeds 6 × 2 mm, body brown; wing about 1.5 times as long as body, light brown.

Antiseptic

Abies lasiocarpa
Plants for a Future

To wounds, in the treatment of colds and flu (bark); to treat bad breath (resin); to treat chest colds and fevers (leaves); to treat the coughing up of blood, which can be the first sign of TB, and as a laxative (infusion)