PINACEAE

PINE FAMILY

James R. Griffin

Tree or shrub, monoecious, evergreen
Stem: young crown conic; twig not grooved, resinous, generally persistent
Leaves simple, generally alternate, sometimes in bundles or appearing ± 2-ranked, linear or awl-like; bases decurrent, sometimes woody, persistent several years
Pollen cone generally < 6 cm, not woody, deciduous
Seed cone generally woody; bracts, scales generally persistent; scale not peltate, fused to or free from subtending bract
Seeds 2, on upper side of scale base
Genera in family: 10 genera, 193 species: mostly n hemisphere; many of great commercial value, supplying > half of world's timber
Reference: [Price 1989 J Arnold Arbor 70:247–305]

PSEUDOTSUGA

DOUGLAS-FIR

Stem: young crown conic; branches appearing ± whorled in young plants, smaller ± drooping; young bark smooth, with resin blisters, mature bark thick, deeply furrowed, dark brown; leaf scars ± smooth, round, slightly raised above twig surface on persistent leaf bases; bud < 15 mm, fusiform
Leaves persistent < 8 years, 2–4.5 cm, tapered to a short petiole above persistent base, ± spreading, ± flat, with 2 whitish bands on lower surface
Seed cone pendent, 4–20 cm, maturing 1st season, persistent or deciduous; stalk < 2 cm; bract ± exserted, 3-toothed or -lobed at tip, free from scale
Seed plus wing < 25 mm
Species in genus: 4 species: North America, Asia
Etymology: (Latin & Japanese: false hemlock)

Native

P. menziesii (Mirbel) Franco var. menziesii

DOUGLAS-FIR

Stem: trunk < 67 m, < 4.4 m wide; mature crown rounded; with large, upper branches
Leaves 2–4 cm
Seed cone 5–9 cm, deciduous; bracts well exserted
Chromosomes: 2n=26
Ecology: Widespread in mixed-evergreen, mixed-conifer forests
Elevation: < 2200 m.
Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, North Coast Ranges, High Cascade Range, n&c High Sierra Nevada, Central Coast, San Francisco Bay Area, n Outer South Coast Ranges
Distribution outside California: to sw British Columbia
Horticultural information: DRN: 4, 5, 6, 15, 16, 17 &IRR: 2, 3, 7 &SHD: 14; CVS.