Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/rocky-mountain-douglas-fir

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How high is Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir?1,800 to 3,000 meters (6,000 to 10,000 feet)
2. What is the scientific name?Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca
3. What is the geographic range?Rocky Mountains of western North America, extending into northern Mexico
4. Where can you find Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir?It grows in the interior mountain ranges from Canada down to northern Mexico, at heights between 1,800 and 3,000 meters (about 6,000 to 10,000 feet).
5. Why do its needles look bluish‑green?The blue‑green color helps the tree keep water and protects it from strong sunlight at high altitudes.

Montane Zone: The region of a mountain characterized by forests, typically between lower foothills and alpine zones.
Subalpine Zone: The ecological zone just below the alpine zone, often characterized by stunted trees and harsh conditions.
Glaucous: Having a powdery or waxy coating that gives a pale, bluish-green color.
Silviculture: The control and cultivation of forests, including the management of trees for timber production.