Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb). Franco
Family: Pinaceae
Softwood
Country of Origin: Western North America

The tree:
In British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon, it is a magnificent tree which produces the most important structural timber in western North America. On the Pacific coast it is commonly 50 to 60 m high, and occasionally 90 m; diameters generally range from 1 m to 2 m, sometimes more. It is one of the more photogenic conifers with dense, dark, soft foliage when mature and a Christmas-tree appearance when young. It can be readily identified by the reddish brown, pointed buds at the ends of its shoots. Its cones are also unmistakable; they are lightweight things which hang down like miniature lanterns, each scale separated from the next by a papery, three pronged bract which protrudes conspicuously.