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Pinaceae
Pinus radiata
Specimen Size: 59.3ft tall, 23in in diameter.
Location: Rising out of the woods at the edge of the parking lot west of Anderson Hall and north of the C10 parking lot and bike shelter.
Historical Background: Though native only in a small part of California, this bright green pine is planted in vast portions of the planet for wood. In New Zealand, Monterey Pine is considered an invasive species where it has escaped plantation forests. The seeds of all pine species are edible and were used by Native American tribes as an important food source. Monterey Pine seeds were a valuable resource because the cones remain closed on the tree year round, and the seeds can be harvested during any season by placing the cones on or near a fire. Monterey Pine is effective for controlling erosion and stabilizing steep slopes because it is fast growing and has a wide spreading root system.The Monterey pine is rare in California with a limited range and may be in danger from climate change as the region becomes drier.
Native Range: Central Coast of California and Mexico
Identifying Features: The bark of Pinus radiata is a distinctive red-brown to blackish-brown and deeply furrowed. The tree bears 4- to 6-inch (7- to13-centimeter) needles in bundles of three and distinctive cones: roughly baseball-sized, woody-textured, knobby, staying closed and clinging tightly to the tree for decades. It grows with a straight trunk and narrow open crown, 50 to 100 feet in height and up to 3 feet in width. Fire allows the cones to expand and release their seeds.
Identifying Features In Depth:
Form: Narrow and open irregular crown stemming from a straight trunk of 50-100’ at maturity, and 1’ to 3’ wide.
Leaves: Needles in fascicles of 3 and of a length from 4-6”, shiny green in color and bunched on the branches.
Bark: Deeply furrowed into ridges and plates, very thick and a deep reddish brown.
Reproductive Bodies: Cones are 3-6’ long, conical in shape. They are a shiny brown and pointed and cluster on branches in rings or whorls where they remain until opened by fire due to their serotenous nature. Once open cone scales are revealed to be thick and slightly raised and armed, they release small long winged seeds.
The limited native range of Pinus radiata on the Central Coast of California, compiled by conifers.org.
Below is the description found for this species on the original Brockman Memorial Tree Tour:
Historical Tree Tour Information: Earth has more than 100 pine species, and ten important ones grow west of Anderson Hall. A Monterey Pine stands on the north side of the C10 parking lot on the west side of Blodel and Anderson Halls. Foresters relish Monterey Pine's fast growth, attained even on poor soils. The tree bears 3- to 5-inch (7- to13-centimeter) needles in bundles of three and distinctive cones: roughly baseball-sized, woody-textured, knobby, staying closed and clinging tightly to the tree for decades. Fire allows the cones to expand and release their seeds. The bark is red-brown to blackish-brown and deeply furrowed. Severe winters turn Monterey pines brown, but do not usually kill them.
Though native only in a small part of California, this bright green pine is planted in vast portions of the planet for wood. In New Zealand, Monterey Pine is considered an invasive species where it has escaped plantation forests. The seeds of all pine species are edible and were used by Native American tribes as an important food source. Monterey Pine seeds were a valuable resource because the cones remain closed on the tree year round, and the seeds can be harvested during any season by placing the cones on or near a fire. Monterey Pine is effective for controlling erosion and stabilizing steep slopes because it is fast growing and has a wide spreading root system.
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