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Douglas Fir

Pseudotsuga menziesii

The Douglas Fir is a tall tree with soft, flat needles. It has a lovely smell that many people enjoy!

Habitat: Mountainous regions and forests

Appearance

The Douglas Fir is a majestic evergreen tree with dark green, flat needles. Its thick, deeply furrowed bark is reddish-brown. Distinctive cones have three-pointed bracts that stick out like tiny mouse tails.

KingdomPlantaePhylumPinophytaClassPinopsidaOrderPinalesFamilyPinaceaeGenusPseudotsuga

Douglas Fir

Interesting facts

If you crush its needles, they release a sweet, citrusy scent!

It's not a 'true fir'! Despite its name, Douglas Fir is in its own special tree group.

Its wood is famous for building, often making strong beams for big structures.

Some Douglas Firs have lived for over 1,300 years, standing tall since ancient times!

Special abilities

Douglas Fir has incredibly thick bark that protects its inner layers from forest fires, helping it survive.

Douglas Fir can grow over 300 feet tall, allowing it to reach sunlight above most other trees.

Douglas Fir has unique cones with little 'mouse tails' (bracts) that help seeds catch the wind and fly further.

Measurements & details

Height: 30-100 m
Canopy Spread: 8-20 m
Is Edible: No
Trunk Diameter: 100-400 cm
Lifespan: 200-1000 years
Fruit Type: Cone
Growth Rate: Medium
Leaf Type: Evergreen

Ecological connections

eaten by

Mule Deer

Odocoileus hemionus

Young trees and seedlings are browsed by deer.

eats

Western Gray Squirrel

Sciurus griseus

Squirrels gather and eat the nutritious seeds from the cones.

shelters

Spotted Owl

Strix occidentalis

Mature Douglas Firs provide crucial nesting sites for these owls.

symbiotic with

Wine-colored truffle

Rhizopogon vinicolor

Fungi help the tree absorb nutrients from the soil.

Traits

Coniferous

Imagine trees with needles instead of flat leaves and special cones that hold their seeds. These evergreens bring green to the forest all year long!

Evergreen

These wonderful plants keep their leaves or needles all year round, providing beautiful green scenery even in the chilliest months. They stay green forever!

Fragrant Flower

Discover flowers that release delightful scents into the air, enchanting our senses and attracting helpful insects. Take a moment to enjoy their sweet perfume!

Timber

Discover how people use wood from trees to build amazing things, from houses to furniture! It's an important natural resource that helps us every day.