Douglas Fir
Victor Hernandez (2007)

Pseudotsuga menziesii

On the Willamette Campus:
The Douglas Fir tree is one of the many different pine trees that can be found on the Willamette campus. Very common on campus, the best way to distinguish this coniferous tree from other trees on campus is by observe the shape of the tree and species specific cone type.

Physical Description:
Douglas Firs are medium to large coniferous trees, ranging from 70-90m in height. The branches being long and droopy give the Douglas Fir Tree its pyramidal (triangular) shape. The leaves are pointed needle leaves that are 2-3 cm in length that are flat, fragrant, soft, and continuously grow throughout the year, making it an evergreen. The bark is very thick, ridged, and rough and the color is dark brown.

Reproduction:
Douglas Fir trees are Gymnosperms (“naked seeds”), meaning that they produce exposed seeds in the form of cones, instead of containing flowering structures. The cones of a Douglas Fir tree are species specific; they contain three little brachts that are only found in this species of pine. These brachts can assist in identifying the tree since they are unique to this species; the brachts resemble hind feet and tail of mice that are hiding in the cone. A mature cone is typically 5-10 cm and has an oval shape to it.

Location:
Two subspecies of Douglas Fir are found in North America, the coastal Douglas Fir can be found throughout the whole Northwest. Coastal Douglas Firs range from lowland to mid-elevation forests, and can survive in both moist and dry environments.

Fun Facts:
The name maybe misleading, but the Douglas Fir is not a fir; it belongs in the Pseudotsuga family of pines.

The Douglas Fir is name after David Douglas, a Scottish botanist who introduced the tree into cultivation in 1826.

The modern uses for the Douglas Fir are for heavy duty construction for wharves, trestles, bridge parts, and commercial buildings. The more traditional uses for the wood were: fuel, fishing hooks, snowshoes, traps, and a sugar substance that was eaten. The Douglas Fir is a very commercially valuable tree for logging, since it can be used in many different ways.

A Native American myth of how the Douglas Fir cone got its brachts goes as follows: Long ago there was a mouse that lived in the forest that was fearful all day and night because of a sly fox that always tried to catch him. One day not paying attention the fox was right behind hi, and the mouse ran off to hide, finding a cone that was big enough to conceal him from the fox. And to this very day the mouse lives in the cone with its tail and hind legs sticking out.

http://forestry.about.com/od/hardwoods/ss/tuliptree.htm