Douglas fir

Douglas fir
a coniferous tree, Pseudotsuga menziesii, of western North America, often more than 200 ft. (60 m) high, having reddish-brown bark, flattened needles, and narrow, light-brown cones, and yielding a strong, durable timber: the state tree of Oregon. Also called Douglas pine, Douglas spruce, Oregon fir, Oregon pine.
[1855-60; named after David Douglas (1798-1834), Scottish botanist and traveler in America]

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Any of about six species of coniferous evergreen timber trees (see conifer) that make up the genus Pseudotsuga, in the pine family, native to western North America and eastern Asia.

Long, flat, spirally arranged yellow-or blue-green needles grow directly from the branch. The North American tree commonly called Douglas fir is P. menziesii (sometimes P. douglasii). Douglas firs may grow to 250 ft (75 m) tall and 8 ft (2.4 m) in diameter. One of the best timber trees in North America, it is also a popular ornamental and Christmas tree and is used for reforestation along the Pacific Coast.

Cone of a Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii )

Grant Heilman

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tree
 any of about six species of coniferous evergreen timber trees comprising the genus Pseudotsuga of the family Pinaceae, native to western North America and eastern Asia. A Douglas fir has long, flat, spirally arranged needles that grow directly from the branch. Each yellow- or blue-green needle has a short stalk at the base and a grooved upper surface. Winter buds are brown, shiny, and pointed. The hanging, oblong cones have three-pointed bracts (outer cone scales). Cones mature in one season and retain their scales when they fall.

      The North American tree commonly known as Douglas fir is P. menziesii (P. douglasii by some authorities). It has several forms, one with reflexed bracts, that sometimes are considered to be separate species. Douglas fir may grow to 75 m (250 feet) tall and 2.4 m in diameter. It is one of the best timber trees in North America, as well as a popular ornamental and Christmas tree, and is used for reforestation along the Pacific Coast. The first seeds are produced at about 25 years, with large crops every 5 to 7 years. The bigcone Douglas fir (P. macrocarpa), a smaller species important only for erosion control, bears cones 10 to 15 cm (about 4 to 6 inches) long.

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Universalium. 2010.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • Douglas fir — or Douglas spruce or Douglas pine or Douglas hemlock n. [after D. Douglas (1798 1834), Scot botanist in U.S.] any of a genus (Pseudotsuga) of giant evergreen trees of the pine family, found in W North America and valued for their wood, esp. a… …   English World dictionary

  • Douglas-fir — This article is about Pseudotsuga. For the North American species, see Pseudotsuga menziesii and Rocky Mountain Douglas fir. For the ship, see Oregon Pine (schooner). Douglas fir Pseudotsuga Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii in …   Wikipedia

  • Douglas fir — didžioji pocūgė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Pušinių šeimos dekoratyvinis, medieninis, vaistinis augalas (Pseudotsuga menziesii), paplitęs Šiaurės Amerikoje. Iš jo gaunama derva. atitikmenys: lot. Pseudotsuga menziesii angl. coastal… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • Douglas-fir — didžioji pocūgė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Pušinių šeimos dekoratyvinis, medieninis, vaistinis augalas (Pseudotsuga menziesii), paplitęs Šiaurės Amerikoje. Iš jo gaunama derva. atitikmenys: lot. Pseudotsuga menziesii angl. coastal… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • Douglas Fir —    The Douglas fir is a beautiful evergreen tree that belongs to the pine family. It is very common in northwestern North America and the Rocky Mountains, and is the source of more timber than any other species of tree in America. It grows nearly …   Dictionary of eponyms

  • Douglas fir — pocūgė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Pušinių (Pinaceae) šeimos augalų gentis (Pseudotsuga). atitikmenys: lot. Pseudotsuga angl. Douglas fir; Oregon fir vok. Douglasfichte; Douglasie; Douglastanne rus. дугласия; лжетсуга; псевдотсуга lenk …   Dekoratyvinių augalų vardynas

  • Douglas Fir Resort & Chalets — (Банф,Канада) Категория отеля: 3 звездочный отель Адрес: 525 Tunnel Mountain Road …   Каталог отелей

  • douglas-fir beetle — noun also douglas fir bark beetle Usage: usually capitalized D : a bark beetle (Dendroctonus pseudotsugae) very destructive to Douglas fir and sometimes to western larch …   Useful english dictionary

  • douglas-fir tussock moth — noun Usage: usually capitalized D : a dull colored moth (Hemerocampa pseudotsugata) with a red spotted hairy larva that feeds on and may seriously defoliate Douglas fir and sometimes other firs …   Useful english dictionary

  • douglas fir bark beetle — noun see douglas fir beetle …   Useful english dictionary

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