E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Pinus monticola Douglas ex D. Don
western white pine
Pinaceae (Pine family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

© Val George  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #83579)

E-Flora BC Static Map
Distribution of Pinus monticola
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Introduction

This is an evergreen coniferous species of tree that can be 50 m tall or taller.

Species Information

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General:
Tree to 50 m tall, sometimes taller; bark thin, grey and smooth when young, developing into small, squarish scales, greyish where flakes exposed, cinnamon brown underneath; young twigs puberulent.
Leaves:
Needles in fives, (3) 5-10 cm long; light blue-green.
Cones:
Seed cones pendant at ends of upper branches, yellow-green to purple when young, turning yellowish-brown, 15-25 cm long when mature; scales thin; pollen cones yellow, clustered.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

USDA Species Characteristics

Flower Colour:
Yellow
Blooming Period:
Mid Spring
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Brown
Present from Summer to Fall
Source:  The USDA

Habitat / Range

Moist to dry slopes in the lowland and montane zones; frequent in S BC; E to SW AB and S to CA, NV, ID, and MT.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Pinus monticola

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Minimum

Average

Maximum

Elevation (metres) 0 877 2145
Slope Gradient (%) 0 25 150
Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]
0 204 360
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
0 3 8
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
C
Number of field plots
 species was recorded in:
1765
Modal BEC Zone Class
ICH
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in: CDF(2), CWH(350), ESSF(136), ICH(990), IDF(70), MH(49), MS(58), PP(1), SBS(1)

Climate

The climate type for this species, as reported in the: "British Columbia plant species codes and selected attributes. Version 6 Database" (Meidinger et al. 2008), is not evaluated, unknown or variable.

Synonyms and Alternate Names

Pinus strobus var. monticola (Douglas ex D. Don) Nutt.

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References