Pinus aristata
(Bristlecone Pine)
Pinus aristata, Hoosier Pass, Park Co. 0114
Pinus aristata, Hoosier Pass, Park Co. 0213
Pinus aristata, Hoosier Pass, Park Co. 5345
Pinus aristata, Hoosier Pass, Park Co. 0094
Pinus aristata, Hoosier Pass, Park Co. 0086
Pinus aristata, Hoosier Pass, Park Co. 0077
Pinus aristata, Hoosier Pass, Park Co. 0072
Pinus aristata, Hoosier Pass, Park Co. 0220
| Scientific Name | Pinus aristata | USDA PLANTS Symbol | PIAR |
| Common Name | Bristlecone Pine | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 183313 |
| Family | Pinaceae (Pine) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description |
Life zones and habitat: Foothills to alpine (8300 to 13000 ft.); generally poor, rocky, gravelly soils in open areas on south and west-facing slopes. Plant: Very long-lived evergreen conifer that in favorable conditions will grow to 50 ft. tall with trunk up to 40 inches in diameter; trunk usually single, but multiple trunks may occur; crown is rounded, flattened or irregular, especially in older trees; bark is gray to red-brown, with long, flat, irregular ridges; branches are contorted; twigs are pale red-brown, aging gray and resembling long bottlebrushes because of needles; buds are pale red-brown, ovoid, pointed, about 0.4 inches across and resinous. Trees size is dependent upon elevation, growing as a small tree at upper subalpine elevations and forming krummholz at treeline. At higher elevations in CO the trees can grow to be very old, 1600 to 2500 years. Needles: Five per fascicle, 0.8 to 1.6 inches long; upcurved, stiff, dark green to deep blue-green, flecked with drops and scales of resin; inner surface with a white line; outer surface usually has a narrow median groove. Cones: Male and female cones on same tree; male cones are ellipsoid, up to 0.4 inches long, bluish to red or orange-red; female cones are cylindric, 2.4 to 4.3 inches long, purplish-brown, scales tipped with a slender, curved prickle up to 0.4-inch long. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, Fire Effects Information System, Flora of North America and SEINet. |
BONAP Distribution Map
Map Color Key |
Colorado Status: Native |
© Tom Lebsack 2024
Banner photo: Castilleja rhexifolia and a brewing storm over the San Juan Mountains