This is an evergreen coniferous species of tree that is found from southern BC south to California, New Mexico, Texas, Nebraska and South Dakota.
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General:
Tree to 40-50 m tall; bark thick, deeply furrowed, dark reddish-brown or blackish when young, changing to cinnamon red when older and exfoliating as irregular scales.
Leaves:
Needles mostly in threes, often twos, occasionally fours or fives, (10) 12-20 (25) cm long, clustered towards branch ends; yellowish-green.
Cones:
Seed cones near branch tips, deep reddish-purple when young, maturing late in second year, turning brown; egg-shaped, 8-14 cm long; scales brown with thickened, yellowish, prickly tip; pollen cones yellow to purplish, strongly clustered.
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
Flower Colour:
Yellow
Blooming Period:
Mid Spring
Fruit/Seed characteristics:
Colour: Brown
Present from Summer to Fall
Source: The USDA
Site Information |
Value / Class |
||
Avg |
Min |
Max |
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Elevation
(metres) |
781 | 220 | 1896 |
Slope
Gradient (%) |
31 | 0 | 244 |
Aspect (degrees) |
199 | 0 | 360 |
Soil
Moisture Regime (SMR) [0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic; 8 - hydric] |
2 | 0 | 7 |
Modal
Nutrient Regime
Class |
C | ||
#
of field plots species was recorded in: |
1818 | ||
Modal
BEC Zone Class |
IDF | ||
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in |
BG(154), ESSF(10), ICH(162), IDF(863), MS(34), PP(540) | ||
Source:
Klinkenberg 2013
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Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Pinus ponderosa subsp. jeffreyi (Balf.) Engelm.
Pinus ponderosa subsp. washoensis (H. Mason & Stockw.) E. Murray
1. Needles 2 or 3 in a bundle.
2. Needles in bundles of 3, 12-20 cm long..........................Pinus ponderosa
3. Cones spreading at right angles or reflexed, the scales armed with prickles...............................Pinus controta (2 varieties)
1. Needles usually 5 in a bundle.
4. Cones long-stalked, 15-25 cm long, 6-9 cm thick at maturity; cone scales thin and flexible; seeds prominently winged..........................Pinus monticola
5. Cones 8-25 cm long, opening at maturity; scales light brown, thinned somewhat toward the tip...............................Pinus flexilis Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia |