Pseudotsuga menziesii - Douglas-fir Fact Sheet and Photos

Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas-fir), is a member of the Pine family. It is not a true "fir". This one is located near the top of Frost Hill at the Morton Arboretum.
The Douglas-fir is one of the most important timber trees in the world.
It is also grown as a Christmas tree.
In one picture I have circled what I believe to be a female flower. The picture next to it shows male pollen cones.
The cones of the Pseudotsuga menziesii are 5-9 cm and mature in one season. They have trident shaped bracts that extend beyond the edges of the scales.
The seeds have wings that are less than 25 mm.
The younger cones have rose colored scales. Notice how the cones have changed over a two week period. Douglas-fir isn't true fir. One difference is that cones of true firs are upright on the branches, but the cones of the Douglas-fir hang down.
Douglas-fir cones can be found even on the lowest branches of the tree. On "true firs" the pine cones grow upright and I've mainly seen them near the tops of the trees.
The three pointed bracts of the cones of the Douglas fir make them different from those of other trees. I found this small brown cone on the ground.
Leaves: flat, 2-4 cm long, taper to a short petiole, two whitish bands on the lower surface

Please ask for permission before using my photographs. Larger sizes and additional photographs of the tree are often available.