Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska to California, east to the Rocky Mountains and South Dakota.
Habitat: Dry montane forests, rocky balds, coastal bluffs and sand dunes, and sphagnum bogs.
Cones: April-June
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Pollination: Wind
Small tree 10-30 meters tall; crown rounded and billowy to narrow and straight.
Thin, to 2-2.5 cm thick; reddish brown to gray or black, furrowed or scaly.
Needle-like, 3-6 cm long, in fascicles (groups) of 2 born alternately along stem.
Female cones 3-6 cm long, scales with sharply pointed tip; male pollen cones to 1 cm long, reddish-green.
The only pine in our area with normally 2 needles per fascicle; cones are spine-tipped. Pinus albicaulis can look similar in appearance, but has 5 needles per fascicle, cone scales without spiny tips, and grows at high elevations.
Publication: Arbor. Frutic. Brit. 4: 2292, figs. 2210, 2211. 1838.
-
var. contorta – shore pine
Occurring west of the Cascades crest in Washington; Alaska south along the coast to northern California. -
var. latifolia – lodgepole pine Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; Yukon Territory to Oregon, east to the Rocky Mountains.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Pinus contorta in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database
WA Flora Checklist: Pinus contorta checklist entry
OregonFlora: Pinus contorta information
E-Flora BC: Pinus contorta atlas page
CalPhotos: Pinus contorta photos
