North Main Divide Road, Cleveland National Forest, Orange Co., CA. 2-1-12. © Peter J. Bryant |
Bigcone Douglas-Fir
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 |
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 |
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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. |
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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 |
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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 |