Foxtail Pine
The foxtail pine, found in the Kings Canyon National Parks and Sequoia National Park along with the subalpine zones, is a tree with great longevity. This is not a commercial plant and are not harvested commonly.
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Division | Pinophyta |
| Class | Pinopsida |
| Order | Pinales |
| Family | Pinaceae |
| Genus | Pinus |
| Subgenus | P. subg. Strobus |
| Section | P. sect. Parrya |
| Subsection | P. subsect. Balfourianae |
| Scientific Name | Pinus balfouriana |
Quick Information
| Identification | Height: 30-70 ft (10-20 m) Needles: Commonly clustered in bundles of 5 sizing 0.7-1.5 in (2-4 cm) Trunk Diameter: Around 7 ft (2 m) Cones : Long cones coloring dark purple to red 2.3 -4.3 in (6-11 cm) Bark: Asymmetrically patched grayish salmon or rather cinnamon Branches: Twisted Twigs: Reddish brown at a young state and transforming into grayish yellow Buds: Reddish brown |
| Tree Type | Evergreen pine |
| Subspecies | 1. Pinus balfouriana austrina or southern foxtail pine 2. Pinus balfouriana balfouriana or northern foxtail pine |
| Distribution/Range | Sierra Nevada, California |
| Habitat | At elevations of 6,400–9,020 ft (in Klamath Mountains, and 7,500–11,500 (Sierra Nevada), |
| Hardiness Zone | 5 |
| Growth Rate | Extremely slow |
| Lifespan | 1000-2100, but can live up to 3000 years |
| Growing Conditions | Sun: Both sunlight and partial shades Soil Requirements: Serpentine soil, deep soil, and rocky soils Water: Very little water |
| Diseases and Pests | Mountain pine beetles and white pine blister rust |
| Reproductive System | Through pollination |
| Seedling Development | Happens throughout wet and mild winters |
| IUCN Conservation Status | Near Threatened |
Interesting Fact
- The species has been crossed with Great Basin Bristlecone Pine.
References
- https://www.conifers.org/pi/Pinus_balfouriana.php
- https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/tree/pinbal/all.html
- https://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/501–pinus-balfouriana
- https://www.michaelkauffmann.net/2014/07/mount-linn/
Published on June 4th 2019 by Sahana Kanjilal under Pine.
Article was last reviewed on 2nd December 2022.
