Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii)
Appearance: An evergreen coniferous tree, usually around 50 m, though in his homeland – North America can reach twice the height.
Compared to the height achieved, the crown is quite slender and straight, it resembles a regular cone in shape.
Branches like spruce or fir, arranged in whorls and in tiers, in younger trees, usually horizontally, in the elderly – rising either (especially in the apex zone) slanting upwards.
The bark of young trees is quite smooth, dark gray to greenish gray, with numerous resin bubbles arranged horizontally, roughly cracked on older trees, deeply furrowed, finally black and brown with lighter colors, sometimes also with orange scratches.
Annual shoots are light green and hairy.
Light brown donuts, conical, with a length of approx 5-7 millimeters,
Length pins 2-3 cm are soft and pliable, usually narrow, furrowed on top, on average- or dark green, usually dull. At the base of the pins you can see clearly distinguished petioles, which they leave behind when torn off (unlike fir pins) protruding pincushion scars, They give off a pleasant orange scent when rubbed,
Male flowers gathered in delicate yellow-brown cones, clustered in large numbers at the ends of the twigs.
Female inflorescences in the shape of greenish tufts with reddish-white scales grow on the tops of the twigs. A mature pine cone is approx 8 cm in length and up to 3 cm wide. It is longitudinally rolled, dangling, light brown in color and comes off completely. The seed scales are very wide, slightly roundish. Cover scales – oblong and divided into three vertices – they protrude clearly from the seed scales, giving the Douglas fir cone its characteristic appearance. The seeds ripen in the first year.
Occurrence: Originally only in the coastal mountains of western North America from British Columbia to California, long, however, it was often planted in gardens and larger parks, and also grown on a large scale in forests.
Flowering period: Maj.
General thoughts: Tallest known specimen of Douglas fir (unfortunately broken down) had a height 133 m and was therefore much taller, than any tree still standing today, Strong, overgrown specimens reach a trunk diameter of approx 4 meters. The wood is similar in appearance to pine, it also has an identical application. This important North American forest tree was named after Scottish botanist D.. Douglas, who discovered this species in Canada and was the first to send samples of it to England.
There is also a variety in Douglas fir ,,Glauca” (by, bottom right illustration), willingly planted as an ornamental tree.