Pseudotsuga menziesii (Cultivated)

Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco, Conif. Duarum Nominibus 4 1950. (syn: Abies californica Steud. [Invalid]; Abies douglasii (Sabine ex D.Don) Lindl. .; Abies drummondii Gordon; Abies menziesii Mirb.; Abies mucronata Raf. .; Abies obliqua Bong. ex Gordon; Abies obliquata Raf. ex Gordon; Abies standishiana K.Koch; Abies taxifolia Poir. [Illegitimate]; Abies taxifolia C.Presl .; Abietia douglasii (Sabine ex D.Don) A.H.Kent; Picea douglasii (Sabine ex D.Don) Link; Pinus douglasii Sabine ex D.Don …; Pinus taxifolia Lamb. [Illegitimate]; Pseudotsuga douglasii (Sabine ex D.Don) Carrière ………; Pseudotsuga menziesii var. viridis (Schwer.) Franco; Pseudotsuga mucronata (Raf.) Sudw. ex Holz. ..; Pseudotsuga taxifolia (Lindl.) Britton ……..; Pseudotsuga vancouverensis Flous; Tsuga douglasii (Sabine ex D.Don) Carrière);

SE. Alaska to Mexico as per WCSP;
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Douglas fir, with the scientific name Pseudotsuga menziesii, also known as Oregon pine or Douglas spruce, is an evergreen conifer species native to western North America. The common name is misleading since it is not a true fir, i.e., not a member of the genus Abies. For this reason the name is often written as Douglas-fir (a name also used for the genus Pseudotsuga as a whole).^[2]

The specific epithet, menziesii, is after Archibald Menzies, a Scottish physician and rival naturalist to David Douglas. Menzies first documented the tree on Vancouver Island in 1791. Colloquially, the species is also known simply as Doug-fir or as Douglas Pine (although the latter common name may also refer to Pinus douglasiana).

Coast Douglas fir is currently the second tallest conifer in the world (after coast redwood). Extant coast Douglas fir trees 60–75 metres (197–246 ft) or more in height and 1.5–2 metres (4.9–6.6 ft) in diameter are common in old growth stands, and maximum heights of 100–120 metres (330–390 ft) and diameters up to 4.5–6 metres (14.8–20 ft) have been documented.

The bark on young trees is thin, smooth, gray,^[5] and contains numerous resin blisters. On mature trees, it is thick and corky.^[5] The shoots are brown to olive-green, turning gray-brown with age, smooth, though not as smooth as fir shoots, and finely pubescent with short dark hairs. The buds are a very distinctive narrow conic shape, 4–8 mm (0.16–0.31 in) long, with red-brown bud scales. The leaves are spirally arranged but slightly twisted at the base to lie in flattish either side of the shoot, needle-like, 2–3.5 cm (0.79–1.38 in) long, green above with no stomata, and with two whitish stomatal bands below. Unlike the Rocky Mountain Douglas fir, coast Douglas fir foliage has a noticeable sweet fruity-resinous scent,^[5] particularly if crushed.

The mature female seed cones are pendent, 5–8 centimetres (2.0–3.1 in) long,^[5] 2–3 cm (0.79–1.2 in) broad when closed, opening to 4 cm (1.6 in) broad. They are produced in spring, green at first, maturing orange-brown in the autumn 6–7 months later. The seeds are 5–6 mm (0.20–0.24 in) long and 3–4 mm (0.12–0.16 in) broad, with a 12–15 mm (0.47–0.59 in) wing. The male (pollen) cones are 2–3 cm (0.79–1.2 in) long, dispersing yellow pollen in spring.

In forest conditions, old individuals typically have a narrow, cylindric crown beginning 20–40 metres (66–130 ft) above a branch-free trunk. Self-pruning is generally slow and trees retain their lower limbs for a long period. Young, open-grown trees typically have branches down to near ground level. It often takes 70–80 years for the trunk to be clear to a height of 5 metres (16 ft) and 100 years to be clear to a height of 10 metres (33 ft).

Douglas fir is one of the world’s best timber producers and yields more timber than any other tree in North America. The wood is used for dimensional lumber, timbers, pilings, and plywood. Creosote treated pilings and decking are used in marine structures. The wood is also made into railroad ties, mine timbers, house logs, posts and poles, flooring, pulp, and furniture. Douglas fir is used extensively in landscaping. It is planted as a specimen tree or in mass screenings. It is also a popular Christmas tree.

(from Wikipedia on 12.12.13)
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