![]() Its large cone holds nutritious seeds that are food for squirrels and birds. This tree is very important as a food source for wildlife. A long taproot anchors it to its windy home on the edge of cliffs and the rocky shores of high mountain lakes. Its name refers to the incredibly flexible branches that allow this tree to cope with the relentless wind. The wind often gnarls and twists the tree into unique shapes. This tree thrives in windier locations and higher subalpine elevations, filling important niches where other trees have more trouble growing. Female cones are large and often several inches long with thick, woody scales.įun Facts: Limber pines are often found clinging to rocky outcrops in some of the most windswept areas of the park. Needles are 1 to 2 inches long and in bundles of four or five. Trees in windier regions will often have a pinkish bark color. Older bark is gray and plate-like thin and smooth on younger branches on the tree. This species of conifer can have multiple trunks. Typically Limber Pine is a small tree, with a height between 15 and 30 feet tall and a trunk diameter of 18 inches. Habitat: 7000 ft.-11000 ft., (2340 m.-3450 m.),Ĭharacteristics: The crown of the limber pine is often broad, symmetrical and often flat-topped. These trees have the common name of "shore pine" and are considered a different subspecies of Pinus contorta from the Rocky Mountain "lodgepole pine." The species originally was described from trees that grow along the Pacific Coast and often are stunted and contorted. The scientific name contorta may seem strange for a tree that typically grows so straight and tall that it was used for lodgepoles by Native Americans. Shade-tolerant spruce, subalpine fir or Douglas fir will grow in the understory of the lodgepole pine and eventually take over and become the dominant trees in the area. If left undisturbed, forest succession will play out in these lodgepole pine communities. With such a dense canopy, future lodgepole seedlings are prohibited from growing because lodgepole pines don't tolerate shade. Hundreds of seeds will germinate after a fire and form an even-aged lodgepole forest. The cones are often tightly sealed with resin and woody tissue that only opens in extreme heat, typically from a fire. The needles are more of a yellow-green olive color than those of other conifers.įun Facts: Female cones are up to 2 inches long and many remain closed and attached to the tree for numerous years. Their needles are 1 to 2 inches long and in bundles of two. These trees can reach 90 feet in height with a trunk diameter of 18 inches. Habitat: 7800 ft.-11500 ft., (2340 m.-3450 m.) montane and subalpine ecosystemsĬharacteristics: Trees in dense stands are tall and straight, with narrow crowns in open sites their crowns are broader and sometimes resemble a ponderosa pine. The species name ponderosa means "ponderous" and refers to the large size attained by these trees. The Abert's squirrel is so dependent on the ponderosa pine that it is found almost exclusively in ponderosa pine forests. The Abert's squirrel in particular depends on the ponderosa pine for much of its diet. The seeds, inner bark, and tips of branches provide food for several squirrel species. Ask your friends which flavor they smell. On warm days ponderosa bark smells like vanilla or butterscotch. ![]() For many, the most memorable feature of the ponderosa pine is the fragrance the bark releases. The thick bark of the older trees helps to protect them from wildfires. With age the bark also begins to alter its appearance to a jigsaw like pattern as it gets thicker. The bark of older trees changes color from grey-black to a cinnamon or red shade. Female cones are large, woody, with a short hook on each scale.įun Facts: The remarkable bark of this tree distinguishes it from others. Needles range in length from 3 to 7 inches long, and are in bundles of 2 or 3. They can reach a maximum height over 100 feet with a trunk diameter of 3 feet. (1680 m.-2850 m.), primarily the montane ecosystem of the parkĬharacteristics: Mature trees are often large, with open rounded or flat-topped crowns.
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