Douglas-fir Douglas-firs
are very big. They can grow from 40 to 60 feet tall
and 15 to 25 feet wide. Because of this they are
one of the most important lumber trees in the
world.The wood is used as lumber, timbers, and
plywood. The dense wood is very hard, stiff and
durable. Animals
forage off the Douglas-fir in the winter or early
spring when their other food supplies are covered
in snow or haven't come up yet. Mule deer like it
more than elk, but it is not an important food for
both. Bears often scrape off the bark on young
trees and eat the sap layer beneath. The common
name of the Douglas-fir is hyphenated because it
isn't a true fir. It was named after David Douglas,
the Scottish botanist. Native Americans had many uses for Douglas-fir. They used the wood and the branches as fuel for cooking. They also used it for fishing hooks and for handles. Douglas-fir branches were used for covering the floors of lodges and sweat lodges. The Douglas fir is vulnerable to clay because it is a wet substance and it can rot the roots. Also the needles can get infected with fungi and this causes them to fall out . Mason F. 2000.
bibliography: "Taiga Plants", http://mbgnet.mobot.org/sets/taiga/plants/index.htm, (5/20/2000). "Fact Sheet for 680 Trees", http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/index.htm, (5/20/2000) "Fir" The New Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia, 1993.
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