PinPond_info.html

Pinus ponderosa (Ponderosa pine): Information.
Identifying characteristics: This species is also referred to as the "western yellow pine." It is a medium-growing, long-lived pine (300 to 600 years) with a very straight trunk and a narrow, irregularly cylindrical, flat-topped crown. It reaches a height of 60 to 100 feet in cultivation, but can reach 200 feet in the wild. On mature trees, the lower two-thirds of the trunk is usually free of branches. Needles, occurring in fascicles of 2 or 3, are clustered near the ends of the branches. They are yellowish-green to dark green, rigid and curved, with a sharp, horny tip and stomatic lines on each surface. The light reddish-brown, symmetrical cones are 2.5 to 6 inches long with thin, narrow, flexible scales and the umbos each armed with a sharp prickle. Fallen cones have a depression in the base where the basal scales are absent (they remained attached to the twig). The twigs and leaves emit a turpentine odor when crushed. Buds are oblong, 0.5 inches long and have closely appressed, reddish-brown, resinous scales. Young trees have dark brown to black, furrowed bark, which becomes yellow-brown to cinnamon-red and broken into large, flat plates as the trees mature. Similar species: red pine (P. resinosa) Austrian pine (P. nigra) Ecology: Distribution: Ponderosa pine is the most important pine in western North America, growing in commercial quantities in every state west of the Great Plains. It occurs from the Pacific Coast mountains and through the Rocky Mountains into northern Mexico. Habitat: This pine reaches its greatest height in deep, well-drained loamy soils, but can withstand a variety of soil conditions, sometimes growing on almost bare rocks. Trees on thin, dry soil are often dwarfed. It is very drought resistant and tolerates alkaline soils and soil salt. The ponderosa pine requires a sunny, open location and is sometimes damaged by late frosts. This species is susceptible to many insect pests. In eastern Iowa, the more humid conditions encourage needle blight and Diplodia tip blight diseases in late summer, causing needle drop. Bark beetles, fungal infections and forest fires can cause serious damage. Uses: Wood: The ponderosa pine provides the most timber of all American pines and, in total annual production, is second only to Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). The wood is rather light and soft and is used for plywood, paneling, mill products, toys, furniture and many other products. Wildlife: This species is very important to wildlife. Birds, squirrels and chipmunks consume the seeds; mule deer, porcupines and rodents feed on the saplings; and the needles provide evergreen cover and nesting materials for various species. Horticulture: Ponderosa pines are used for ornamental and conservation plantings in Iowa because they are tolerant of drought and calcareous soils. The Rocky Mountain variety is P. ponderosa var. scopulorum. The Arizona pine, P. ponderosa var. arizonica, grows in southern New Mexico, Arizona and northern Mexico and has needles in fascicles of 5, and smaller cones.

Pinus ponderosa (Ponderosa pine): Information.

Identifying characteristics:
This species is also referred to as the "western yellow pine." It is a medium-growing, long-lived pine (300 to 600 years) with a very straight trunk and a narrow, irregularly cylindrical, flat-topped crown. It reaches a height of 60 to 100 feet in cultivation, but can reach 200 feet in the wild. On mature trees, the lower two-thirds of the trunk is usually free of branches. Needles, occurring in fascicles of 2 or 3, are clustered near the ends of the branches. They are yellowish-green to dark green, rigid and curved, with a sharp, horny tip and stomatic lines on each surface. The light reddish-brown, symmetrical cones are 2.5 to 6 inches long with thin, narrow, flexible scales and the umbos each armed with a sharp prickle. Fallen cones have a depression in the base where the basal scales are absent (they remained attached to the twig). The twigs and leaves emit a turpentine odor when crushed. Buds are oblong, 0.5 inches long and have closely appressed, reddish-brown, resinous scales. Young trees have dark brown to black, furrowed bark, which becomes yellow-brown to cinnamon-red and broken into large, flat plates as the trees mature.

Similar species:

Ecology:
Distribution: Ponderosa pine is the most important pine in western North America, growing in commercial quantities in every state west of the Great Plains. It occurs from the Pacific Coast mountains and through the Rocky Mountains into northern Mexico.

Habitat: This pine reaches its greatest height in deep, well-drained loamy soils, but can withstand a variety of soil conditions, sometimes growing on almost bare rocks. Trees on thin, dry soil are often dwarfed. It is very drought resistant and tolerates alkaline soils and soil salt. The ponderosa pine requires a sunny, open location and is sometimes damaged by late frosts. This species is susceptible to many insect pests. In eastern Iowa, the more humid conditions encourage needle blight and Diplodia tip blight diseases in late summer, causing needle drop. Bark beetles, fungal infections and forest fires can cause serious damage.

Uses:
Wood: The ponderosa pine provides the most timber of all American pines and, in total annual production, is second only to Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). The wood is rather light and soft and is used for plywood, paneling, mill products, toys, furniture and many other products.

Wildlife: This species is very important to wildlife. Birds, squirrels and chipmunks consume the seeds; mule deer, porcupines and rodents feed on the saplings; and the needles provide evergreen cover and nesting materials for various species.

Horticulture: Ponderosa pines are used for ornamental and conservation plantings in Iowa because they are tolerant of drought and calcareous soils. The Rocky Mountain variety is P. ponderosa var. scopulorum. The Arizona pine, P. ponderosa var. arizonica, grows in southern New Mexico, Arizona and northern Mexico and has needles in fascicles of 5, and smaller cones.