Question 1

True or false: The Douglas fir is the state tree of Oregon.

Accepted Answer

True. Oregon adopted the Douglas fir as its state tree in 1939, reflecting its economic and ecological importance.

Question 2

True or false: Douglas fir needles have a sweet, citrus-like scent when crushed.

Accepted Answer

True. Crushed foliage emits a fruity, tangerine-like aroma due to volatile compounds, distinct from pine or spruce.

Question 3

True or false: Douglas fir wood is too weak for construction and is mainly used for paper pulp.

Accepted Answer

False. Douglas fir is prized for its strength and is widely used in framing, plywood, and heavy timber construction.

Question 4

True or false: Douglas fir trees can be male or female, with separate sexes on different trees.

Accepted Answer

False. Douglas fir is monoecious: both male and female cones occur on the same tree, not separate sexes.

Question 5

True or false: Douglas fir is not a true fir and belongs to a different genus entirely.

Accepted Answer

True. Despite its name, Douglas fir is in the genus Pseudotsuga, not Abies, making it a 'false hemlock' relative.

Question 6

True or false: Douglas fir bark can be over a foot thick on old-growth trees.

Accepted Answer

True. Mature trees develop bark up to 12 inches thick, which protects them from fire and insects.

Question 7

True or false: The oldest known Douglas fir is over 1,300 years old.

Accepted Answer

True. A Douglas fir in British Columbia is dated at about 1,350 years, making it one of the oldest non-clonal trees.

Question 8

True or false: Douglas fir seeds are dispersed by exploding cones that shoot seeds up to 100 feet.

Accepted Answer

False. Douglas fir cones release seeds passively; they don't explode. Some pines have explosive cones, but not this species.

Douglas Fir Trivia Questions