The
Douglas Fir is also known as Coast Douglas-fir,
Oregon Pine, Oregon Douglas-fir, Douglas Tree, Interior
Douglas-fir
This
is not a fir at all but 'Pseudotsuga' or "False
Hemlock"
The
Douglas Fir is named after the Scottish botanist,
David Douglas, who introduced many of BC's native
conifers to Europe
UNIQUE
FEATURES:
The
Douglas Fir has distinctive three-forked bracts
between the scales on the cones
LOCATION:
The
Douglas Fir grows on the southern mainland coast
of British Columbia and Vancouver Island
An
interior variety of the Douglas Fir is found throughout
southern and central BC
SIZE:
The
Douglas Fir can reach up to 85 metres in height
on the coast and 42 metres in the interior
CONES:
5
to 11 cm long
green
when young, turning to brown as they age
papery
scales, with three pronged bracts (resembling mouse
hind legs and tail) in between them
have
winged seeds
seeds
are eaten by birds and small animals
NEEDLES:
flat
with pointed tips
bright
yellowish-green with single groove on upper surface
paler
colour on lower surface
spirally
arranged so appear to stand out around the twig
BARK:
smooth,
grey-brown, blistered when young
furrowed,
thick, dark reddish-brown ridges as the tree ages
bears
scrape off the bark to eat the sap layer beneath
WOOD
CHARACTERISTICS:
dense,
hard, stiff, durable, strong
USES:
modern
- heavy duty construction such as wharves, trestles,
bridge parts and commercial buildings
traditional
- wood: fuel, fishing hooks, handles, snowshoes,
fishtraps; boughs: floor coverings; seeds: eaten;
twigs/needles: can exude a sugar like substance
which was prized
QUICK/EASY
ID (identification) for DOUGLAS FIR
cones:
forked
needles:
flat, fragrant, friendly (the boughs are soft to
the touch when you run your hand up and down)
