Balsam fir
Breaking needle buds
One or more breaking needle buds are visible (green needle is visible at the end of the bud). This is before the first needle has unfolded and spread away from the stem. Photo JAS.
Young needles
One or more young, unfolded needles spread away from the stem but has not reached full size ( 1” long) and turned darker. Photo JAS.
Needles
One or more live, unfolded needles (spread away at an angle from the developing stem enough that its point of attachment to the stem is visible). This plant is an evergreen and has needles all year long. Photo JAS.
Unripe seed cone
One or more unripe, female seed cones are visible, which are green, grey-green, purplish or brown with scales closed together. Photo JAS.
Ripe seed cone
One or more ripe, female seed cones (turned gray-brown or violet-brown and the scales have begun to separate and fall from the cone, releasing seeds). Photo JAS.
Pollen cone
One or more fresh, male pollen cones (strobili) are visible. Cones have overlapping scales that are initially lightly closed, then spread apart to open the cone and release pollen. Photo JAS.
Open pollen cones
One or more open, fresh, male pollen cones (strobili) are visible, which have spread apart to release pollen. Photo JAS.