Pinyon Pine
Pinyon or Piñon is a species of small to medium-sized pine trees growing at an altitude of 1,400-3,000 m. As a drought-resistant tree, the Pinyon intermixes with junipers and dominates the forests of the semi-desert regions in the southwestern US.
Pinyon Pine
Pinyon Pine Tree
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Division | Pinophyta |
| Class | Pinopsida |
| Order | Pinales |
| Family | Pinaceae |
| Genus | Pinus |
| Subgenus | Ducampopinus |
| Scientific Name | Pinus edulis |
Colorado Pinyon Pine
New Mexico State Tree
Pinyon Pine Pictures
Quick Information
| Other Names | Colorado pinyon, two-leaf pinyon, two-needle pinyon, nut pine |
| Size | 33-66 ft (10-20 m) tall; trunk diameter of 31 in (80 cm) |
| Identification | Leaves (Needles): Green, 1.2-2.2 inches long, occur in pairs, moderately stiff, stomata on both the outer and inner surfaces
Cones: Egg-shaped, 1.5-2 inches long, reddish-brown, scales are few and not covered with prickles; thin-shelled, edible, large and wingless seeds Bark: Reddish brown, thin, scaly, rough |
| Tree Type | Evergreen |
| Distribution/Range | Southern Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, northern Arizona, Utah, California, Oklahoma, the Guadalupe Mountains in Texas |
| Hardiness Zones | 4-8 |
| Growth Rate | Slow; approximately 4 inches per year |
| Lifespan | Long-lived; up to 1000 years |
| Growing Conditions | Winter Conditions: Cold, mean January temperatures vary between -10° to 6° C (14° to 43° F)
Summer Conditions: Hot, mean July temperatures range from 20°-27° C (68°-81° F) Rain: From 250-560 mm per year Sunlight: Full sun, shade intolerant Soil Requirements: Rocky, low in fertility, well-drained soils with sandstone, granite, limestone, basalt, shale, and mixed alluvium |
| Diseases and Pests | Red-ring rot, root rots, brown cubical rot; stem diseases such as pinyon dwarf mistletoe and pinyon blister rust; needle rusts, needle casts, and other foliage diseases; insects including mountain pine beetle, pinyon-pitch nodule moth, tiger moth, adelgid, pinyon sawfly, pinyon ips, pinyon cone beetle, etc. |
| Flowering/Fruiting | Winter buds with strobili are fully formed by October in the first year; staminate cones mature while the ovulate cones become capable of receiving pollens by mid-June the following year, pollination ends in June; fertilization takes place in July of the third year |
| Breeding System | Monoecious |
| Seed Production | Produced when it is 75-100 years old |
| Seedling Development | Germination of seeds occurs in the spring and summer after dispersal; seedlings grow slowly with the primary needles developing in the first year |
| Wildlife Value | Provides habitat for elk, white-tailed deer, mule deer, desert cottontail, and mountain cottontail; turkeys feed on pinyon nuts while deer browse the tree |
| Varieties/Cultivars | None; natural hybridization occurs between single leaf pinyon and pinyon in places where their ranges coincide |
| Uses | Occasionally used as ornamental and Christmas trees; also used for fuelwood, production of railroad ties and mine timbers |
| IUCN Conservation Status | Least Concern |
Piñon Pine
Pinus Edulis
Pinyon Seeds
Interesting Facts
- In 1848, the Colorado Pinyons were first described by the German-American botanist George Engelmann.
- The US state of New Mexico has Piñon pine as its official state tree.
- The pinyon pine is both culturally and economically important for the Native American tribes, who at many places own the rights of harvesting the pine seeds.
- The energy-rich pinyon pine seeds containing vitamin E, zinc, calcium, magnesium, iron, and oleic acid have been eaten by the native people for centuries.
Pinyon Pine Cone
Pinyon Pine Needles
Pinyon Pine Nuts
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