ponderosa pine

Ponderosa Pine

• Jigsaw bark

• Three needles/bundle

• Large pines of basin

• Important wildlife trees

• Dominant pine of high desert

• Logging in basin/west

• Yellow Pine

Ponderosa Pine

Pinus ponderosa

Ecology

• Every western state

• Young trees have dark blackish bark

• Older trees orange yellow bark

• Arid transition zones

• Dry spacious groves

• Extensive horizontal root systems determine spacing of large trees

Ecology continued

• Man and beetle main mortality factors

• 250-500 years

• Studies show that in some areas, 85% of trees come from abandoned chipmunk caches

• Bitterbrush and sagebrush important to survival of young trees(shading)

Ecology continued

• Seeds eaten by squirrels, chipmunks, grouse, nutcrackers, ravens, quail

• Browsing mule deer thin seedlings• Reproductive maturity reached at 50 years• Scientific studies show that browsing by cattle is

perhaps the most objectionable deterrent to satisfactory reproduction of this valuable tree