Douglas Of The Fir

Oct 3, 2006 by Naomi.

An interesting evergreen tree on the west coast of the USA is the Douglas fir, which is not a fir at all but ‘Pseudotsuga’ or “False Hemlock” also known by many local common names. David Douglas, a Scottish botanist sent to the “new” world by the Royal Horticultural Society of London, introduced 240 species of native conifers and other plants to Europe between 1824 and 1834.

Other notable introductions include Sitka spruce, Sugar pine, Western White pine, Ponderosa pine, Lodgepole pine, Monterey pine, Grand fir, Nobel fir, and several other conifers that transformed the British landscape and the timber industry. Numerous garden shrubs and herbs such as the Flowering currant, Salal, Lupin, Penstemon, Oregon sunshine, and California poppy were widely grown in Britain before being recognized in the USA. It seems immigrants and pioneers had other plants of interest which sometimes brought in noxious weeds.

A study of botany in southern California becomes a study in historical geography and movement of cultures from east and west. The Douglas fir was taken to other lands and farmed for lumber. Its wood is used for structural applications that must withstand high loads. Australia was an early importer of the lumber.

The cones have distinctive three forked bracts between the scales that resemble the tail and hind feet of a mouse. Not often does a plant feature make identification so easy.

Evergreen, deciduous, annual or perennial - treat plants with loving care. They absorb your waste breath of carbon dioxide and expel the oxygen on which you live.

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