Franklin, Jerry F. 1982. Ecology of noble fir. In: Oliver, Chadwick Dearing; Kenady, Reid M., eds. Biology and management of true fir in the Pacific Northwest: Proceedings of the symposium; 1981 February 24-26; Seattle, WA. Contrib. 45. Seattle, WA: College of Forest Resources, University of Washington; Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Forest and Range Experiment Station: 59-69.
Noble fir is the premier true fir in size of individuals, stand vol-umes, and appearance. Loggers recognized its value early (theycalled it larch) due to its high strength/weight ratio and consequentspecialty uses (e.g., airplanes and ladder stock). It is a productivesubalpine tree with high management potential. Available volumesexceed 1 billion ft3. Noble fir occurs in the Cascade Range between44° and 47°45' north latitudes and in isolated populations in the Ore-gon Coast Ranges and southwestern Washington's Willapa Hills. It isfound mainly in the Abies amabilis Zone. Noble fir is most common onhabitat types characterized by herbaceous and big huckleberry-bear-grass understories and is uncommon on habitat types characterizedby Alaska huckleberry. It consistently plays a pioneer role because ofits shade intolerance, in contrast with the other true firs. Noble firaverages medium or better cone crops 50 percent of the time over itsrange, although sites can go as long as six years without significantcone production. Seed quality varies greatly with cone crop size; 49percent sound seed was the maximum observed in 54 seedtrap-basedanalyses. Collected seed averages 13.500 seedsllb and 41 percentgerminability. Factors responsible for poor seed quality are not completely understood. Both natural and artificial regeneration has vari-able success. Seedlings start slowly. Noble fir is relatively intolerantalthough more tolerant than Douglas-fir. Although initial growth isslow noble fir continues significant height growth into the second cen-tury; on many upper slope sites its height surpasses that of the faster-starting Douglas fir at 50 to 75 years. Stand production can be veryhigh with dense stands of trees of high form factor. Stand productioncan be very high with dense stands of trees of high form factor. Mostnatural noble fir is found in mixed stands but pure stands do occur.The record stand averages 329,000 board feet per acre (gross) over10 acres; the best contiguous 2.47-acre (1-ha block) contains407,950 board feet/acre (gross). Typical volumes in 60- to 80-year-old stands are 50 to 60 M .b.f. Noble fir attains heights and diametersin excess of 275 feet and 100 inches b.h. Noble fir is not long-lived,generally senescing at 250 to 300 years; few trees live beyond 400years, although one has been estimated at 600 years. Noble fir is rela-tively free of pests and pathogens. Root rots and bear damage aremost frequent.