Ponderosa pine -- Pinus ponderosa

Pronunciation: pie’-nus pon-der-o’-sa

Leaves: acicular (needle), fascicles of 2 and 3 (bundles), 4” - 8” long, persistent (3 years on stem), yellow-green to gray-green

Cones: 2” - 6” long, ovoid to ellipsoidal, reddish-brown to brownish-yellow, sessile or short stalked, dorsal umbo, armed

Bark: Young: brown to black, deeply furrowed

Old: yellowish-brown to cinnamon-red, flat, scaly plates; deep fissures

- smells like vanilla, butterscotch, cream soda

Twig: stout; buds covered with resinous drops

Other:

-4,500’ - 8,500’ Rocky Mountains

-2,000’ - 6,500’ Pacific Northwest

-Shade intolerant, often open-grown - can be climax or seral species

-Most important pine in western US

-Occurs in pure and mixed stands with: Douglas-fir, western larch, and others