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• Pseudotsuga
• Pseudotsuga menziesii

Pseudotsuga menziesii — coast Douglas-fir

Facts

Coast Douglas-fir refers to the west coast, as this species naturally ranges from British Columbia south to California. However, many have attempted to grow the majestic Douglas fir east of its natural range, due to its beauty and its importance as a timber tree. Although it only typically grows to 80 feet (25 m) in cultivation, mature trees in Pacific rain forests attain towering heights of 300 feet (100 m). The fragrant needles have white "racing stripes" on the undersides. In New England, this species has only naturalized in damp forests (reminiscent of its wet habitats in the northwest) in Connecticut.

Habitat

Forests

Characteristics

• Buds or leaf scars

  Winter bud shape

  • the winter buds are conical (cone-shaped)
  • the winter buds are lanceoloid (lance-shaped, widest below the middle and tapering to the ends)

• Fruits or seeds

  Seed cone base

  NA

  Seed cone bracts

  the bracts protrude beyond the seed cone scales

  Seed cone form

  the seed cone is longer than wide, with woody scales attached at the base

  Seed cone scales

  NA

  Seed cone shape

  • the seed cone is cylindrical (cylinder-shaped)
  • the seed cone is ellipsoid (oval, tapering to rounded ends)
  • the seed cone is ovoid (egg-shaped)

  Seed cone symmetry

  the seed cone is symmetrical

  Seed cone umbo position

  there is no raised portion on the seed cone scale

  Seed cone umbo spine

  NA

  Seed wings

  the seeds have wing-like projections

• Growth form

  Growth form

  the plant is a tree

• Leaves

  Leaf arrangement

  there is one needle-like leaf per node

  Leaf base

  the base of the needle-like leaf is expanded to a circular attachment point

  Leaf clustering

  the needle-like leaves are single, with one per node

  Leaf cross-section

  the needle-like leaves are flattened (can't be rolled between the fingers)

  Leaf duration

  the needle-like leaves remain green all winter

  Leaf form

  the leaves are needle-like

  Leaf glands

  there are no glands on the underside of the needle-like leaves

  Leaf stalks

  the needle-like leaves do not have a leaf stalk

  Leaf types

  there is only one type of needle-like leaf on the twig

  Leaves overlapping

  the needle-like leaves are separate and do not hide the twig surface

• Place

  Habitat

  terrestrial

  New England state

  • Connecticut
  • Massachusetts

  Specific habitat

  forests

• Stem, shoot, branch

  Bark resin blisters

  the bark has small resin blisters on it

  Leaves on shoots

  the needle-like leaves do not grow in tight clusters on a short, knob-like shoot

  Twig bloom

  there is no bloom on the twig

  Twig hair type

  • the twigs have few or no hairs on them
  • the twigs have hairs, but the hairs do not have glands

  Twig hairs

  • the twig does not have hairs
  • the twig is hairy

Wetland status

Usually occurs in non-wetlands, but occasionally in wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: FACU)

New England distribution and conservation status

From the dichotomous key of Flora Novae Angliae