ponderosa pine
Pinus ponderosa

Family: Pinaceae.

Type: Large evergreen conifer. Single stem with branches near the top; lower branches are usually not kept.

Leaves: Long needles typically grouped into threes in fascicles. (Wetter locations, such as the Pacific Northwest, may have up to five needles per bundle, while dry locations such as Arizona may have only two needles per bundle). The papery bundle sheath around the needles is persistent; it remains intact when the needles drop, and is found on needles on the ground.

Twig: The bark of the ponderosa is very distinct. The "puzzle pieces" of the ponderosa are formed together into large plates that are orange to yellow in color (color varies with location from very yellow to almost black). The bark is quite deep and fire-resistant. Tall, straight, majestic.

Cone: Large, woody, stiff, egg-shaped. The underside of each scale, near its end, has a sharp prickle ("prickly ponderosa"). The bottom scales of the cone remain attached to the tree, so the cone of the ground typically has a bald spot at its base.

Miscellaneous: The ponderosa has a distinctive vanilla smell, particularly in direct sun. Jeffrey pine, which is otherwise similar, smells of pineapple. Found commonly in the Sierras in coniferous forest; its location in the sand hills of the Santa Cruz mountains is very unusual and separated from the rest of the population. It is found south into Arizona, north into Washington and Idaho, in low to moderate moisture coniferous forests. Also found in the Black Hills of South Dakota, which are named for the black trunks of the Ponderosas there. It is fairly shade-intolerant. Historically, "parklike stands" composed entirely of Ponderosa were common; the fire-resistance of the ponderosa, due to its bark and its high branches, would allow it to survive fires that would clear the area of competitors. These stands have become fairly rare due to fire control policies. Ponderosa is not dependent upon fire to reproduce, however. It is fairly drought-tolerant (but not as much as Jeffrey pine).