Christmas trees come in different varieties, so knowing the difference between them can make selection easier.

The University of Illinois Extension helps in the process with the following guide:

■ The balsam fir has short, flat, long-lasting needles that are rounded at the tip and are a nice, dark green color with a silvery cast and fragrance. It is named for the balsam or resin found in blisters on bark. Resin is used to make microscope slides. It was once sold like chewing gum and was used to treat wounds in the Civil War.