Douglas-fir Pseudotsuga menziesii
Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii)
- Needles: Scattered singly over the twigs 0.6-1 inch long. Underside has 2 white stomatal bands. Grow radially around the stem; are soft to touch. Attached to branch with a twisted stem.
- Buds: New growing tips are very sharp tipped and shiny- look like a spear.
- Bark: Dark gray to brown: smooth on young trees, often with resin blisters. On mature trees, thick, reddish-brown with deep furrows and corky layers.
- Cones: 2-4 inches long. Scales are soft with a distinct 3-lobed bract extending from and beyond each scale (Looks like the rear end of a mouse, diving for cover).
- Form: Large tree with a narrow flat-topped crown.
- Unique identifier: Spear-like bud tip, mouse-tail cone bract.
