Douglas-Fir Pseudotsuga menziesii
Douglas-fir are among the tallest trees in the world reaching heights of 330 feet tall (with a historical record of 385 feet). They are not a "true" fir (Pseudotsuga literally means "false hemlock"). Along the central coast they range from 80 to 250 feet. In the Santa Lucia Mountains they occur in relatively few locations (along the Little Sur River) and are sometimes mixed with redwoods. Douglas-fir is one of the most common lumber woods used in the construction of homes throughout the western states.
The needles are blunt, flat, on drooping limbs.
Douglas-fir
forest near the coast rarely occur in pure stands
Male cones of Douglas-fir.
Femal cones of coastal Douglas-fir and typical braches and needles.
The papery thee pointed bracts
are distinctive of the female Douglas-fir cone. It is said that mice are hiding among the scales of the cone.
Young Douglas-fir trees will have smooth bark while the bark of mature trees is gray and scaly. As trees grow older the bark has deep furrows and is often covered with lichen.