Douglas Fir The Pine Family–Pinaceae Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco (soo-doe-TSOO-guh men-ZEE-zee-i) Names: Douglas Fir is named after naturalists, David Douglas and Archibald Menzies. The genus name, Pseudotsuga literally means “false hemlock.” It was once known as P. taxifolia (meaning yew-leaved). Relationships: It is one of only five species in its genus. Three species from […]
Douglas Spiraea The Rose Family–Rosaceae Spiraea douglasii Hook. (spy-REE-uh duh-GLASS-ee-i) Names: The word Spiraea comes from a Greek plant that was commonly […]
Douglas Maple Acer glabrum var. douglasii (Hook.)Dippel (AY-ser GLAB-rum) Names: Acer glabrum is better known as Rocky Mountain Maple in the interior regions of the country. Glabrum means smooth, without hair, referring to its smooth stems and leaves. The variety is named after David Douglas, Relationships: There are nearly 150 species of maples worldwide. Most are from […]
The Rose family–Rosaceae Douglas Hawthorn Crataegus douglasii Lindl. (var. douglasii) (kra-TEE-gus doug-LASS-ee-eye) Suksdorf’s Hawthorn Crataegus suksdorfii (Sarg.) Kruschke (kra-TEE-gus sooks-DORF-ee-eye) Names: Mayflower is the name given to Hawthorns in the spring. Douglas Hawthorn is also known as Black Hawthorn, Black Hawberry, Western Thornapple or similar variations thereof. Suksdorf’s Hawthorn was previously considered a variety of Douglas Hawthorn (C. […]
Pacific Silver Fir The Pine Family–Pinaceae Abies amabilis (Douglas ex Louden) Douglas ex Forbes (AY-beez uh-MAA-bill-is) Names : Pacific Silver Fir is also called “Lovely Fir.” In fact, the name “amabilis” means pretty or beautiful. It is also sometimes called Cascade or Red Fir. Relationships: There are about 40 species of true firs in the world, […]
Noble Fir The Pine Family–Pinaceae Abies procera Rehder (Ay-beez prah-SIR-uh or pro-KAY-ruh) Names: The name “procera” means “tall.” Noble Fir lives up to both its names, being both tall and noble! It is the tallest of all true firs. Relationships: There are about 40 species of true firs in the world, 9 in North America. We have […]
Grand Fir The Pine Family–Pinaceae Abies grandis (Douglas ex D. Don) Lindl. (Ay-beez GRAN-dis) Names: Grand Fir is also sometimes called Lowland Fir because it is the only fir in our area commonly found in lower elevations Relationships: There are about 40 species of true firs in the world, 9 in North America. We have […]
Pacific Dogwood The Dogwood Family–Cornaceae Cornus nuttallii Audubon ex Torr. & A. Gray (KOR-nus new-TAL-ee-eye) Names: Pacific Dogwood is also known as Western Flowering Dogwood. It was named after Thomas Nuttall, an English botanist and zoologist. Relationships: There are about 100 dogwood species worldwide found primarily in temperate regions. Three Dogwood trees and a […]
Pacific Madrone TheHeath Family– Ericaceae Arbutus menziesii Pursh. (ar-BYOO-tus men-ZEE-zee-eye) Names: The Pacific Madrone is the only common broadleaved evergreen tree in our region. It is known by many names. In the northwest it is more familiarly called Madrona, whereas in California it is more often called Madrone or sometimes Coast Madrono (Madrono is […]
Pacific Yew The Yew Family–Taxaceae Taxus brevifolia Nutt. (TAKS-us brev-i-FOAL-ee-uh) Names: The Pacific Yew is also called the Western Yew or sometimes the Oregon Yew. Brevifolia means short leaves. Relationships: There are about seven species of yew worldwide. Most are shrubs. The English species, T. baccata and the Japanese species, T. cuspidata have many cultivated […]