Also known as Rocky Mountain Douglas Fir. [Pseudotsuga. taxifolia (Poir.)Britt. ] | ||
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General
Description:
A tree 50-70 m tall or sometimes
taller, with a pyramidal
crown and a trunk
diameter of 1-3 m; leaves dark yellowish-green, flat, obtuse, short-stalked,
2-3 cm long; cones pendent, 5-7 (-10) cm long; scales rounded, flexible; seeds
6 mm long, with a wing a little longer. One of our most valuable lumber trees,
but not attaining the size or covering the vast areas in Idaho as it does is
the Pacific Northwest. Moist situations of mts. and valleys. Alta. To B. C.,
south to Texas and Calif.
Distribution:
S. W. British Columbia to central California east to s. w. Alberta through
Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, western Texas and north central Mexico.
Habitat:
Moist to dry areas with well drained, deep, loamy soils from sea level to timberline;
in dense pure stand to mixed stands with almost every western conifer; does
not germinate or grow well in dense shade, but does better in open stands, growing
slowly at first later growing more rapidly. Dwarf Mistletoe, strong winds and
the douglas fir beetle are some of its enemies.
Other:
Douglas Fir is probably the economically most valuable tree in North America.
It strong, soft wood is valuable for timbers, large beams, trusses, for lumber
from 1x2's to 12 inch planks, plywood, for house construction, bridges, railroad
ties, mine structures, interior finishes, etc. It has a beautiful grain which
takes finishes well.
The trees grow up to 1000 years old and may become 10 feet in diameter.
Wildlife use it as a cover, and its seeds are utilized by small mammals, birds,
and rodents. The douglas fir squirrel, Townsend chipmunk, deer mice, wrens,
crossbills and sparrows are among these. Grouse feed on its twigs and buds.