Bigcone Douglas-Fir (Bigcone Spruce), Pseudotsuga macrocarpa

North Main Divide Road, Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 2-1-12. © Peter J. Bryant	Bigcone Douglas-Fir (Bigcone Spruce) Pseudotsuga macrocarpa A small to medium-sized, erect, single-trunked evergreen tree with conical crown, from 50 to 100 ft. tall with 2 to 5 ft. trunk diameter. It is found occasionally on dry slopes and canyons at higher altitudes of the Santa Ana Mountains, and at elevations from 2,000 to 6000 ft. from Kern to San Diego County in California. It is well adapted to fire with its thick bark and ability to sprout new crowns and branches. Trees produce seeds at about 20 years of age, and can live for over 600 years. Back to Pinaceae of Orange County, California Back to Eudicots of Orange County, California Back to Natural History of Orange County, California
	Blue-green 1-2 in. leaves arranged like a bottle brush can be found along the entire length of most branches. They are shed after about 5 years. North Main Divide Road, Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 2-1-12. © Peter J. Bryant
Stems of mature trees are thick and tapering, with long and sweeping branches. © Joan Avise.	North Main Divide Road, Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 2-1-12. © Peter J. Bryant
	The thick (6-8 in.) bark is deeply ridged, composed of thin woodlike plates separating heavy layers of cork. © Joan Avise.
North Main Divide Road, Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 2-1-12. © Peter J. Bryant	North Main Divide Road, Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 2-1-12. © Peter J. Bryant
North Main Divide Road, Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 2-1-12. © Peter J. Bryant	North Main Divide Road, Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 2-1-12. © Peter J. Bryant
Leathery, pendant female cones are 4-7 in. long- larger with thicker scales than those of other douglas firs. North Main Divide Road, Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 2-1-12. © Peter J. Bryant	Three-lobed bracts extend between and just beyond the ends of the cone scales. Seeds are large and heavy, and not well dispersed by wind; they may animal-dispersed. They are eaten by various rodents and birds. North Main Divide Road, Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 2-1-12. © Peter J. Bryant
Often found mixed with Coulter Pine and other conifers, California Bay Laurel, and White Alder, and is closely associated with Canyon Live Oak (Quercus chrysolepis). Shrub associates include Bigpod and Hoary Ceanothus, Eastwood Manzanita, and Toyon. North Main Divide Road, Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 2-1-12. © Peter J. Bryant	Generally north-facing at lower elevation but not at higher altitudes. North Main Divide Road, Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 2-1-12. © Peter J. Bryant