| British Columbia Outdoor Wilderness Guide |
PONDEROSA PINE
pinus ponderosa
- The
Ponderosa Pine is also known as Western Yellow
Pine, Bull Pine, Pondosa Pine, Rock Pine
- It
was named the Ponderosa Pine because of its
ponderous size
- The
Ponderosa Pine is the only native British Columbia
pine with bundles of three needles
UNIQUE
FEATURES:
- The
Ponderosa Pine has a large crown, straight trunk
- The
bark and cones are good for quick hot fires
- wolf
lichen grows on the trunks and dead branches
- The
Ponderosa Pine has a log, deep root system that
enables it to access deep water and keep the
tree from blowing over
- Ponderosa
Pines can live as long as 400 to 500 years
LOCATION:
- The
Ponderosa Pine is found in the southern interior
of British Columbia
- Ponderosa
Pines can
grow in a variety of soils; from extremely dry
to deep, moist, well-drained areas
- The
Ponderosa Pine can be found in both high and
low elevations
SIZE:
- Ponderosa
Pines average about 25 to 30 metres tall; but
can reach up to 50 metres tall and 2 metres
in diameter
CONES:
- narrow,
oval shape
- 7
to 14 cm long
- scales
thicker towards the tip with a rigid prickle
on the end
- 2.5
cm wing on seeds
NEEDLES:
- occur
in bunches of three
- 12
to 28 cm in length, thin and pointed with toothed
edges
BARK:
- when
young: black, rough and scaly
- when
mature: thick, bright orangey-brown, deeply
grooved into jig-saw like flakes
- the
thick bark protects the tree from ground fires
- on
a hot day the bark smells like vanilla
- a
young twig smells faintly of oranges
WOOD
CHARACTERISTICS:
- knotty
- clear,
even grained
USES:
- modern
- doors, windows, furniture, paneling, shelving
- traditional
- seeds/inner bark: food; wood: dugout canoes;
pitch: waterproofing, ointment
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