The
Douglas fir (
Pseudotsuga menziesii) is an evergreen
conifer species in the pine family,
Pinaceae, which is native to western North America. The trees grow to a height of around 20 to 100 metres (70 to 330 feet) and commonly reach 2.4 metres (8 feet) in diameter. The largest coast Douglas firs regularly live for more than 500 years, with the oldest specimens more than 1,300 years old. The
cones are pendulous and differ from true
firs as they have persistent scales. The cones have distinctive long,
trifid (three-pointed)
bracts, which protrude prominently above each scale. The cones become tan when mature, measuring 6 to 10 centimetres (
2+1⁄2 to 4 inches) long for coastal Douglas firs. This photograph shows a young female cone of the variety
Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca (Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir), cultivated near
Keila, Estonia.
Photograph credit: Ivar Leidus