Mature ponderosa growing in a selectively logged area, Big Hole, Oregon [C.J. Earle, 17-Apr-1998].
Bark. View about 30 cm across [C.J. Earle].
Common Names
Ponderosa pine (1).Taxonomic notes
Syn: P. washoensis Mason & Stockwell 1945, P. ponderosa subsp. washoensis (Mason & Stockwell) E. Murray 1982; P. ponderosa var. ponderosa. Note that the identification of typical P. ponderosa with P. washoensis is not universally accepted; certain factors, such as cone morphology, suggest that Washoe pine should be retained as a distinct taxon at subspecific or varietal rank. For the time being, it is also described in the Database as P. washoensis. Populations from west of the Cascade crest that have been assigned to var. ponderosa are here treated under subsp. benthamiana.P. washoensis was described when two California botanists, believing 'Pacific' ponderosa (here treated as subsp. benthamiana) to be identical to the type collected by Douglas in eastern Washington (here, subsp. ponderosa), discovered an isolated southern population of subsp. ponderosa on Mt. Rose in NW Nevada (4). Noting that the Mt. Rose trees were distinct from those of western California (benthamiana), but failing to compare them with populations from eastern Washington, they described the Mt. Rose trees as a new species, Pinus washoensis. In the 1960s, similar populations were found in the Warner and Bald Mts of NE California and were also assigned to P. washoensis (5, 6, 7). Subsequent California investigators searching for 'P. washoensis' further north continued to make the same error, leading to reports of 'P. washoensis' from as far north as British Columbia (8). The error was discovered during a review of the species by F. Lauria (9, 10).
Description
Trees to 60 m tall and 2.5 m dbh, straight; crown pyramidal. Branches spreading-ascending; twigs stout, orangish, aging gray, rough. Branches spreading-ascending; twigs stout, orangish, aging gray, rough. Twigs commonly red-brown, not glaucous. Buds ovoid, red-brown, 1.5-2 cm, variably resinous. Leaves (2)3 per fascicle, spreading-ascending, persisting 4-6 years,10-25 cm × (1.2-)1.5-2 mm. Pollen cones cylindric, 10-20 mm, mostly red. Seed cones maturing in 2 years, shedding seeds soon thereafter, not persistent, spreading, slightly asymmetric, ovoid-conic before opening, 7-15 cm, tan or pale red-brown, sessile; apophyses of fertile scales moderately raised; umbo low-pyramidal, tapering acuminately to short broad-based prickle. Seed body 6-9 mm; wing 15-25 mm (1).Range
Canada: British Columbia; USA: Washington, Oregon, NW Nevada and NE California east of the Cascade crest. Habitat montane, dry, open forests at 0-2300 m (1).Big Tree
Height 52.1 m, dbh 277 cm, crown spread 14 m, in LaPine Recreation Area, Deschutes, OR (2, 3).Oldest
Dendrochronology
Ethnobotany
A valuable timber tree, the harvest of which far exceeds regrowth because of high timber value and multiple uses of the wood (1).Observations
Since the species is so common within its range, only a few choice locales can be mentioned here. In Oregon, U.S. Highway 395 passes through many fine stands within Malheur National Forest. Fine old-growth stands may also be seen along the Gotchen Creek Trail #40 and Cold Springs Trail #72 in Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA and at campgrounds along the Chewack River, Okanogan National Forest, WA. Regrettably, all of these stands are in areas subject to long-term fire suppression and thus constitute anthropogenically disturbed stands.Remarks
Citations
(1) Kral in Flora of North America online.(2) American Forests 1996.
(3) E-mail communication from Robert Van Pelt, who measured these trees; 18-Mar-1998.
(4) American Forests. 1969. National Register of Big Trees.
(5) Muir 1894.
See also:
Arno & Gyer 1973.
The Ecological Role of Fire in Sierran Conifer Forests.
Thanks to M.P. Frankis for his Dec-1998 contributions to the Taxonomic Notes section.
[Pinus] [Pinaceae] [home]
This page is from the Gymnosperm Database
URL: http://www.geocities.com/~earlecj/pi/pin/ponderosa1.htm
Edited by Christopher J. Earle
E-mail:earlecj@earthlink.com
Last modified on 27-Feb-1999