Douglas Spruce 



71 



red-brown scales. In dry regions the bark frequently becomes spongy and of a 

 grayish color; on young trees it is thin, rather smooth except for some resin bUs- 

 ters, and dark gray. The twigs are slender, sUghtly hairy, orange-yellow, and 

 shining, becoming smooth, red-brown, or dark gray. The winter buds are ovoid, 

 sharp-pointed, about 10 mm. long, the scales ovate. The leaves are linear, 2 to 

 3 cm. long, about 2 rmn. wide, nearly straight, bluntly pointed, seldom incurved, 

 hght yellow at first, becoming yellowish green or sometimes bluish green; on vig- 

 orous shoots they are somewhat larger, slender, and sharply thick-tipped. The 

 staminate flowers are about 2 cm. long, oblong, orange to red, subtended by an 

 involucre of large, thin, 

 papery scales. The 

 pistillate flowers are 

 red to purplish, 2 to 3 

 cm. long, about 12 mm. 

 thick. The pendent 

 cones are oblong-ovoid, 

 5 to 10 cm. long, on 

 stout short stalks, pur- 

 plish at first, yellow- 

 brown when mature, 

 falling off soon after 

 having shed their seeds. 

 The scales are some- 

 what concave, roxmded 

 at the apex, nearly or- 

 bicular, sUghtly irregu- 

 larly toothed, about 2 

 cm. long, somewhat 

 less in width; the 

 bracts are 2.5 to 3.5 Fig. 53. -Douglas Spruce. 



cm. long, 5 to 7 mm. wide, inversely arrow-shaped and reflexed. The nearly tri- 

 angular seed is 5 to 7 mm. long, red-brown and shining above, pale and dull 

 beneath; the dark brown wing, nearly twice as long as the seed, is broadest at or 

 below the middle, obliquely rounded at the apex, and soon breaks away from the 

 seed. 



The wood varies greatly; it is hard, light red, and coarse-grained, or yellowish 

 and finer grained; its specific gravity is about 0.51. It is the most valuable of the 

 western timber trees, being used for heavy construction purposes which require 

 large timbers, also for ship-building and railroad ties. It is also largely exported. 

 The bark is used for tanning leather. 



As an ornamental tree it has long been known and grown in Europe, but was 

 imsuccessful in eastern America until it was discovered that plants raised from 

 seed obtained in Colorado were hardy in the Eastern States, those from the Pacific 



