Exploring the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument
In my search to understand Bigcone Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga macrocarpa) within the Angeles National Forest, I found myself in secret canyons and along steep hillsides that few people have ever explored. I thus took it upon myself to document more than just our selected data plots for Bigcone. In previous posts, I’ve shared some of the large angiosperms I’ve run across. Here is the documentation of the second largest Pseudotsuga macrocarpa yet measured — a record Bigcone Douglas-fir.
This Bigcone was found on the edge of a wash called Holcomb Canyon within the Devil’s Punchbowl Natural Area. The tree is nearly as big around as the record specimen in Baldy Village but just not as tall. I have heard a rumor that the Baldy tree lost some of its crown — so I wonder if the numbers I have for this tree are still correct. Regardless, the tree in the Punchbowl is much more dramatic, being that it is within the Pleasant View Ridge Wilderness and not in the middle of town!
Baldy Bigcone |
Devil’s Bigcone | |
| Circumference |
269 inches
|
265 inches
|
| Height |
165 feet
|
118 feet
|
| Crown spread |
94 feet
|
114 feet
|
| Total Points |
457.5 points
|
411.5 points
|
The Devil’s Punchbowl Natural Area is home to the second largest PSMA documented.
Pseudotsuga macrocarpa – Bigcone Douglas-fir or Desert fir
This discovery is truly exceptional. I write from Italy, I am a graduate student in Forest Sciences and I have been studying the conifers of western North America for a few years now, in particular Pseudotsuga. Sooner or later I will have to see this tree in person. I hope that in the meantime the fires and drought will not take him away or some tourist will damage him. It is really nice to be able to discover things like this again in 2020. How was ther tree general health? Did it reproducing well with cones? Did it present any damage or anything else? Thanks
Jona V.
Jonah- thanks for writing. I love that species and hope to revisit the tree soon. Tree was healthy and doing well a few years back. Fingers crossed for the future.