Taxon

Pinus edulis

 
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Pinus edulis - piñon pine, pinyon pine, two-needle pinyon, Colorado pinyon, American pinon, piñón
Image: Janice Tucker
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Common name: piñon pine, pinyon pine, two-needle pinyon, Colorado pinyon, American pinon, piñón
Family: Pinaceae (Pine)
Distribution: Central and Southwestern United States, Northern Mexico
Habitat: Montane slopes, canyons, foothills
IUCN Red list: Least concern
Hardiness: USDA Zone 4 (-30 to -20 °F)
Life form: Evergreen tree
Occurrence in New Mexico: New Mexico native plant
Growing Conditions: The native range of the piñon pine extends from southeastern California, east though Arizona, Utah and New Mexico to western Oklahoma and Texas, north through Colorado to southwestern Wyoming, and south into northern Mexico. In New Mexico, it usually grows at elevations from 5,000-9,000 feet. It grows on dry mountain slopes, rocky mesas, and plateaus in a characteristic woodland community with junipers, but the piñons extend to higher elevations and the junipers to lower elevations. Piñon pines are not particular about soil type, and grow in sand, loam, clay, and rocky soils. They are shade intolerant in all but the seedling stage, when "nurse plants" are required to protect the seedlings from excessive heat and drying. This drought-tolerant tree has taproots that extend to soil depths of 20 or more feet and shallow lateral roots that reach up to twice the crown radius. The tree grows in areas with 4-20 inches of annual precipitation, and is mostly dependent on soil moisture stored from winter snows. They regenerate only from seeds and are usually, but not always monoecious. The pollen is carried by wind, and outcrossed cones produce more viable seeds than self-pollinated ones. Seed viability decreases rapidly within 1 year, the germination rate is low, and most seeds are lost to vertebrates and insects. Piñon trees can be propagated from seeds planted in fall. Trees can be pruned to maintain shape and remove dead growth.
Description: The piñon pine grows 10-30 feet tall, with a dense, irregularly rounded, spreading shape when mature. The trunk is often twisted and irregularly furrowed, with several large, crooked branches. Branching begins near the base, and dead branches persist on the tree. The evergreen needles are curved and almost always grow in bundles of 2, each 1-2 inches long. The needles persist 4-6 (sometimes up to 9) years. Pollen cones are yellowish brown. Seed cones are 1 ½-2 inches long and occur singly or in groups of 2-4. They mature in 2 years, shedding seeds and falling soon thereafter. The tree has a taproot and shallow (½– 1½ foot deep) lateral roots that extend up to twice the crown radius.
Links: SFBG Plant of the Month • Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN-Taxonomy) • SEINet • Wildflower Center - Native Plant Database

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