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Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas-fir)

This western North American conifer is fairly easily recognized by its distinctive cones, which feature papery, 3-pronged spikes. On the West Coast, especially in the "fog belt," the trees can reach astounding sizes, rivaling coast redwood in towering heights. However, in the Rocky Mountains Douglas-fir is not a giant tree, and is easily mistaken for many other conifers.

The list of mushrooms associated with Douglas-fir, either as mycorrhizal associates or saprobes, is very long. Commonly encountered, "classic" or "field guide" mushrooms found with Douglas-fir include: Amanita aprica, Amanita smithiana, Gomphidius subroseus, Lactarius rubidus, Lactarius rubrilacteus, Phaeolus schweinitzii, Sparassis radicata, and Suillus lakei (which associates only with Douglas-fir). However, hundreds of other mushrooms are also associated with Douglas-fir, including Agaricus buckmacadooi, Amanita augusta, Amanita calyptroderma, Amanita novinupta, Auriscalpium vulgare, Baeospora myosura, Calocybe onychina, Cantharellus subalbidus, Chroogomphus pseudovinivolor, Cortinarius seidliae, Craterellus species 02, Floccularia fusca, Gomphidius oregonensis, Helvella maculata, Helvella vespertina, Hericium abietis, Hydnellum aurantiacum, Hydnum oregonense, Hypholoma capnoides, Leccinum caespitosum, Morchella frustrata, Morchella hotsonii, Morchella snyderi, Rhodofomes cajanderi, Rhodofomes roseus, Russula gracilis, Russula xerampelina, Strobiluris lignitilis, Suillus caerulescens, Suillus ponderosus, Tricholoma murrillianum, and Tricholoma terreum.

 

Range of Pseudotsuga menziesii

Pseudotsuga menziesii
Douglas-fir needles are flattened and up to about an inch long; cones have distinctive papery spikes


Pseudotsuga menziesii
Douglas-firs are conical . . .

 

Pseudotsuga menziesii
. . . with branches in loose whorls

 

Pseudotsuga menziesii
West-Coast trees become huge, with moss-covered bases


Pseudotsuga menziesii
developing cones are bright green


Pseudotsuga menziesii
bark is pale gray and smooth when young . . .

 

Pseudotsuga menziesii
. . . but dark gray and furrowed at maturity

 

Pseudotsuga menziesii
needles are fairly soft, and radiate at all angles


Pseudotsuga menziesii
cones become brown; note 3-pointed, papery spikes

 

Pseudotsuga menziesii
spikes can be less clearly defined on fallen cones




Kuo, Michael (January, 2023). Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas-fir). Retrieved from the MushroomExpert.com website: www.mushroomexpert.com/trees/pseudotsuga_menziesii.html

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