Scientific Name | Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca | USDA PLANTS Symbol | PSMEG |
Common Name | Rocky Mountain Douglas Fir | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 183428 |
Family | Pinaceae (Pine) | SEINet Reference |
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Description |
Life zones and habitat: Foothills to subalpine (5500 to 10500 ft.); wide variety of soils, but in CO generally found in more acidic or calcareous soils. Plant: Evergreen, conifer tree growing to 100 to 130 feet (occasionally up to 160 feet) in the Rockies; diameter seldom more than 5 feet; crown narrow to broadly cone-shaped, flattening with age; bark on young trees thin, smooth, grey, with numerous resin blisters; bark on mature trees very thick and corky; mature trees usually live less than 400 years in the Rockies. Needles: Single needles spirally-arranged around stems, 0.6 to 1.4 inches long, green to bluish green. Cones: Male and female cones on same tree; male cones ~ 0.8 inch long and yellow to red; female cones pendulous and 1.6 to 2.8 inches long; scales subtended by conspicuous, protruding 3-lobed bracts. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, Wikipedia, Fire Effects Information System and Flora of North America. |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key |
Colorado Status: Native |
© Tom Lebsack 2024
Banner photo: Castilleja rhexifolia and a brewing storm over the San Juan Mountains