Bigcone Douglas Fir

(Pseudotsuga macrocarpa)

Color Photograph: © by and courtesy of Charles Webber, California Academy of Sciences

Bigcone Douglas Fir (Pseudostuga macrocarpa)

Identifying Characters: The long, cylindrical cones with conspicuous, three pointed cone brachts are characteristic of this species.

Similar Species: Bigcone Douglas Fir is similar to Douglas Fir. However the two species have separate ranges. Bigcone Douglas Fir is found only in Southern California outside of the range of Douglas Fir. The cones of Bigcone Douglas Fir are nearly twice as long as those of Douglas Fir.

Measurements: The height of mature individuals depends on the the slope of the ground. Trees on relatively flat areas reach 80 to 100 feet in height, but those on steep slopes are usually much smaller (30-50 feet).

Cones: Cones elongate and cylindrical, 4 to 6 inches in length; cone scales broad and rounded at the apex; cone brachts large, protruding far beyond the apices of the cones scales; cone brachts three-pointed with two small lateral apines and a long, thin central one.

Needles: Needles in two irregular rows, 0.75 to 1.25 inches in length; needles flattened, sharp-pointed, pedunculate; color blue-green.

Bark: Bark thick, dark red-brown, with deep furrows breaking it into wide scaly ridges.

Native Range: The range of Bigcone Douglas Fir is about 217 km (135 mi) from north to south and about 338 km (210 mi) from east to west. Distribution of the species, in general, is confined to the Transverse and Peninsular Ranges of southern California. It is found on Mount Pinos, technically in the Tehachapi Mountains but considered transitional between them and the Transverse Ranges. Northern limits are near Mount Pinos in Kern County, and the headwaters of Labrea Creek in Santa Barbara County. Westernmost limits are Mission Canyon in the Santa Ynez Mountains, and Zaca Peak in the San Rafael Mountains. Older publications claimed that Bigcone Douglas Fir grew in central Baja California, Mexico; a more recent publication verifies that it does not. The southern limit of the species is near Julian, San Diego County. (Silvics of North America. 1990. Agriculture Handbook 654.)

Habitat: Bigcone Douglas Fir is found in the dry slopes and canyons of Southern California.