Also known as the blister tree, Canada balsam, blister fir, eastern fir, and Balm-of-Gilead fir, this species is best identified by its flat, shiny green needles which have two white stripes underneath, and by their unique blistered bark, which are actually tiny pockets full of sticky resin. The tree creates this excretion to prevent the entry of infectious fungi, bacteria and insects, and to deter herbivores from consuming the foliage and bark.
The virtues of this resin are well known. This sticky substrate was often used as a key ingredient in wood varnish, glue and sealant; and its naturally aromatic properties lend themselves well to early cold & cough remedies—to name just a few of its more traditional uses.
The Bark of a Balsam Fir
Balsam fir bark is thin, smooth and steel gray with many resin blisters. The smooth bark takes on irregular brown scales as the tree ages. Both male and female cones occur on the top branches of the tree. The cones are ½ to 3 inches long.
Balsam fir roots do not grow very deep so these trees can blow down during extremely high winds. When balsam fir grows in a group of trees, branches at the bottom of the tree die and dry out. As long as they get sunlight, the lower branches stay green all the way to the ground.
Teaching Science with Balsam Fir Bark
You may be lucky enough to have balsam fir trees growing where you live, and if you do, you’ve got access to the tools to craft a resin-powered “motorboat” ready to zoom across any pond!
Take a small, sharp twig about 5 centimetres long, about as thick as a pencil lead. Burst a balsam fir blister with your twig and coat the end of the twig with a nice globule of resin. Carefully bring the twig to a nearby pond or other quiet water source, and place the twig in the water. Watch in amazement as the twig takes off like a motorboat, making twists and turns as it zips along the surface of the water. The resin contains a hydrophobic (water-fearing) oil and when it makes contact with the water it repels water molecules, driving the twig forward!
Resin Vs. Sap
When rooting around for resin, make sure you’re not mistaking it for the tree's natural sap, a watery liquid found inside a tree trunk. The tree's resin, by contrast, is found in pockets inside the bark and is thicker than sap. The resin is flammable and will crackle in a camp fire, while the sap become steam and hisses until the wood is dry.
Other Uses for Balsam Fir Resin
Balsam fir resin has been long-used as a topical antiseptic for wounds and infections. The resin, essential oil and tinctures are often employed by herbalists and Indigenous peoples to treat various ailments, including respiratory issues, wounds, and pain relief.
Balsam fir resin also makes a long-lasting gum that can ease hunger and being exceptionally sticky it has been used for glue as it dries to a natural hardness with good tensile strength. The resin, wet or dry makes an excellent fire starter on those wet, soggy days.
In nature, the bark is actually eaten by porcupines. Squirrels will cache their cones and several types of birds will feed on the seeds and buds. The tree provides cover for small rodents, birds and large mammals.
Kids Activity: Try making a smell cocktail
The next time you go for a walk, take along some small pieces of sponge and a container of water. Dab a moistened sponge under everyone’s nose: just a little moisture on the upper lip will suffice. The wetness under your nose helps you to distinguish more odours. Try a little “scratch and sniff” by gently rubbing the needles of different conifers (cone bearing trees such as balsam fir, spruce, white pine and eastern white cedar) to release each distinctive smell. Can you identify these conifers by smell alone?
Take along small paper cups, one for each person. Place a few needles from a variety of conifers in your cup and add a bit of soil. Using a twig as a swizzle stick, give the mixture a good stir and sniff the pungent, rich and earthy smell of the forest. Give your concoction a name—perhaps it is “needleicious” or “balsamazing.” What other forest smells can you discover?
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