PINACEAE 



Coulter Pine 



Pinus coulteri D. Don 



HABIT. A small tree 40-50 feet high and l-2Vi feet in diameter 

 (max. 80 by 3Vi feet); large, open, unsymmetrical crown. 



LEAVES. In fascicles of 3; 6-12 inches long; dark blue- 

 green; rigid; persistent 3-4 years; basal sheath persistent. 

 FLOWERS. Male yellow; female dark red-brown. 



FRUIT. Short-staked; 10-14 inches long; oblong-ovoid; 

 opening at maturity and persistent several years; light yellow- 

 brown; thick scales terminating in large claw; the largest 

 American pine cone, weighing up to 5 pounds. Seed: Yz inch 

 long, thick-shelled, wing longer than seed (about 1 inch long). 



TWIGS. Very stout; rough; orange-brown. Winter buds: 

 Yj inch, brown. 

 BARK. Nearly black; l|/^-2 inches thick; broad, scaly ridges. 

 WOOD. Unimportant; soft and weak; used for fuel. 



SILVICAL CHARACTERS. Intolerant; maturity reached 

 in about 150 years; growth slow; wide, deep roots; reproduc- 

 tion scanty. 



HABITAT. Dry, rocky slopes from 3,000-7,000 feet; pure 

 or mixed stands. 



* * * 



Digger Pine 



Pinus sabiniana Dougl. 



HABIT. A small tree 40-50 feet high and 1-2 feet in diameter; 

 bole often forked; open, sparsely foliaged crown. 



LEAVES. In fascicles of 3; 7-12 inches long; pale blue-green; 

 flexible; pendant; persistent 2>—^ years; basal sheath persistent. 



FLOWERS. Male yellow; female dark purple. 



FRUIT. Similar to Coulter pine, but smaller (6-10 inches 

 long) and chocolate-brown. Seed: % inch long, thick-shelled, 

 edible, wing about Yi as long as seed. 



TWIGS, BARK, WOOD, and SILVICAL CHARACTERS. 

 Similar to Coulter pine. 



HABITAT. Dry foothills from 100-5,000 feet; able to sur- 

 vive on exceedingly dry sites; in pure stands or mixed with 

 oaks. 



I37] 



