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Identify Douglas-fir

Trees in the Pine Family - Pinaceae

By , About.com Guide

Douglas Fir

Douglas-fir

Virginia Tech - Used by Permission
Douglas-fir is the English name applied in common to evergreen coniferous trees of the genus Pseudotsuga in the family Pinaceae. There are five species, two in western North America, one in Mexico, and two in eastern Asia.

Because of its distinctive cones, Douglas-firs were finally placed in the new genus Pseudotsuga (meaning "false Tsuga") by the French botanist Carrière in 1867. The Doug-firs gave 19th century botanists problems due to their similarity to various other conifers better known at the time; they have at times been classified as Pinus, Picea, Abies, Tsuga, and even Sequoia.

The Common North American Douglas-fir

Leaves: persistent or deciduous, linear or needle-like.

Fruit: Woody cones.

Other Conifers:
| baldcypress | cedar | fir | hemlock | larch | pine | redwood | spruce |

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