Also known as Black, Scrub, Shore, Coast or Tamarack Pine. | ||
needles |
cones |
seeds |
|
|
|
General
Description:
A slender tree, 20-40
m tall, with a short, rounded, branched crown, and the trunk 4-10 dm in
diameter, with thin, scaly bark; leaves bright yellow-green, thick; cones short-ovoid,
and often adhering to the tree for years, opened or unopened, but forest fires
that kill the tree will usually open the cones and the seeds thus liberated
soon start a new stand of trees, Fairly dry situations. Sask. to Alaska, south
to Colo. and Calif.
Distribution:
Alaska, Yukon to Baja California east to Alberta, Saskatchewan., Dakotas south
through the Rocky Mountains to Colorado.
Habitat:
From sea level up to tree line;
in bogs, sand dunes, and around standing water to rocky
ridges; can occur in pure stands to mixed stands with Douglas Fir, Idaho
White Pine, Red Fir, Subalpine Fir and Ponderosa Pine.
Other:
In Idaho, Lodgepole Pine is a medium-sized tree up to 80 feet tall and can be
up to 30 inches in diameter. In good sites (moist, but well-drained sandy or
gravelly loam), it has a long, clear, slender, cylindrical bole and short narrow,
open crown. At lower elevations its associates are Ponderosa Pine, Douglas Fir
and Western Larch. At higher elevations it is found with Engelmann Spruce, Subalpine
Fir and Limber pine. It is an aggressive species and can repopulate burned over
areas or clear cuts rather quickly because it begins producing seeds as young
as 6 years and thereafter a good seed crop every 2-3 years. Some cones remain
on the tree unopened with seeds remaining viable for 15-20 years. Maturity is
gained after about 200 years although it can live up to 400-600 years. Enemies
are bark beetles, fire and Dwarf Mistletoe.
It is an important species for wildlife providing good habitat for grouse, deer
and elk. The seeds are staples for pine grosbeaks, Clark’s nutcrackers,
squirrels, and rodents such as chipmunks. Porcupines eat the bark. Deer and
cattle eat the young saplings.
The wood was once not used except for firewood, but as timber has become more
scarce, the light yellow wood which is straight grained, is made into 2x4's
for general construction, poles, fencing, railroad ties, mine timbers and for
making pulp for paper. The native Americans used the young trees for tepee poles,
travois, etc.