Also known as Western Yellow, Yellow, Pondosa, Blackjack, or Bull Pine. | ||
needles |
cones |
seeds |
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General
Description:
A massive, straight-trunked
tree, 30-60 m tall, with a narrow,
columnar crown and scattered branches upturned at their ends; trunk 1-2 m in
diameter, with thick bark marked
by very broad, shield-like red-russet
plates; leaves yellowish-green, clustered
toward the ends o£ the branches; cones broadly ellipsoid, horizontal or
somewhat deflexed, reddish-brown; scales thin, narrow, thickened at the apex,
and with prickles; seeds 6-7 mm long, with wings 25-35 mm long. This is a valuable
lumber tree. Dry hillsides and plateaus. S.D. to B.C., south to Texas and Calif.
Distribution:
South Centra British Columbia to Baja California east and west of the Cascade
Mountains east to S.. E.. British Columbia through the Rockies
with a disjunct population in the Black Hills of South Dakota south through
Nebraska to western Texas and northern Mexico.
Habitat:
Found at lower to mid-elevations in areas with deep snows and dry summers; at
first they grow in “doghair” stands which are thinned by fires;
they produce many leaves and cones which cover the understory and cause a fire
hazard. Seedlings require open areas, being intolerant of shade. They range
in elevation from 0 to 9000 feet. They prefer deep, well drained soils. They
grow in pure stands or mixed with Douglas Fir and Western Larch.
Other:
Bark beetles damage or kill these trees. The light, strong wood is used for
the manufacture of boxes, crates, toys, furniture, construction, mill products
and timbers.
Wildlife such as spruce grouse, pine jays and Clark nutcrackers, chipmunks rely
on the seeds. Mule deer , porcupines and rodents feed on young saplings.