PINACEAE

PINE FAMILY

James R. Griffin

Tree or shrub, monoecious, evergreen
Stem: young crown conic; twig not grooved, resinous, generally persistent
Leaves simple, generally alternate, sometimes in bundles or appearing ± 2-ranked, linear or awl-like; bases decurrent, sometimes woody, persistent several years
Pollen cone generally < 6 cm, not woody, deciduous
Seed cone generally woody; bracts, scales generally persistent; scale not peltate, fused to or free from subtending bract
Seeds 2, on upper side of scale base
Genera in family: 10 genera, 193 species: mostly n hemisphere; many of great commercial value, supplying > half of world's timber
Reference: [Price 1989 J Arnold Arbor 70:247–305]

PINUS

PINE

Stem: young crown conic, mature crown often rounded or flat; branches ± whorled in young plants; young bark smooth, mature bark furrowed; bud ± conic, generally resinous
Leaves generally 2.5–35 cm, generally sessile, in bundles of 1–5; bundles solitary in axils of alternate, awl-like bracts, each bundle enclosed at base in a sometimes deciduous sheath of bracts, generally persistent several seasons
Seed cones often whorled, generally maturing and opening 2nd season, sometimes persistent on stem; stalk 0 or < 16 cm; bract included, fused to scale, minute; scale tip reflexed and elongated 3–7 cm, or often with a rounded or angled, often prickled knob < 3 cm
Seed: coat hard, sometimes woody
Chromosomes: 2n=24 for all reports
Species in genus: 94 species: n hemisphere
Etymology: (Latin: pine)
Reference: [Millar & Critchfield 1988 Madroño 35:39–53]

Native

P. contorta Loudon

LODGEPOLE PINE

Stem: mature bark scaly, thin; trunk 2–34 m (extremely variable at maturity)
Leaves 2 per bundle, 2.5–8.6 cm; sheath persistent
Seed cone pendent, < 6 cm, brown; stalk ± 0; scale tip knobs < 5 mm, angled, prickled
Ecology: Coastal to subalpine forest
Elevation: < 3500 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast, Klamath Ranges, High Cascade Range, High Sierra Nevada, San Gabriel Mountains, San Bernardino Mountains, San Jacinto Mountains, Great Basin Floristic Province
Distribution outside California: to Alaska, South Dakota, n Baja California

Native

subsp. bolanderi (Parl.) Critchf.

BOLANDER PINE

Stem: trunk generally < 2 m
Seed cone asymmetric, woodier than other subspp., remaining closed, on stem for many years
Ecology: "Pygmy forest" on coastal terrace soils with claypan or hardpan
Elevation: < 250 m.
Bioregional distribution: North Coast (Mendocino Co.) Threatened by development, off-road vehicles
Horticultural information: In cultivation.