Pinus flexilis
(Limber Pine)
Pinus flexilis, FR 600, Deep Creek Overlook, White River Plateau 0046
Pinus flexilis, FR 600, Deep Creek Overlook, White River Plateau 5003
Pinus flexilis, FR 600, Deep Creek Overlook, White River Plateau 5023
Pinus flexilis, FR 600, Deep Creek Overlook, White River Plateau 0045
Pinus flexilis, FR 600, Deep Creek Overlook, White River Plateau 0043
| Scientific Name | Pinus flexilis | USDA PLANTS Symbol | PIFL2 |
| Common Name | Limber Pine | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 183343 |
| Family | Pinaceae (Pine) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description |
Life zones and habitat: Foothills to alpine (5200 to 12000 ft.); steep, rocky, well-drained sites with poor soils on exposed ridges and summits; found in mixed montane forests and near timberline and lower elevations. Plant: Evergreen, conifer tree growing to 40 to 50 feet; straight to contorted trunk 24 to 36 inches in diameter; cone-shaped crown becoming rounded with age; at or above timberline reduced to shrub form (krummholz) by wind shear; smooth bark on younger trees, light gray to silvery white, becoming furrowed with broad scaly plates, dark brown to grayish on mature trees. A slow growing, long-lived species, sometimes taking several hundred years to reach maturity; mature trees may exceed 1000 years of age. Needles: Five long needles per fascicle, 1.2 to 2.8 inches long, dark green; upper surfaces with conspicuous, lengthwise whitish bands, less pronounced on lower surfaces. Cones: Male and female cones on same tree; male cones ellipsoid-cylindric, ~0.6 inch long, pale red or yellow; female cones 2.8 to 6 inches long, green and oblong when immature, yellow-brown and ovoid to somewhat cylindric when mature. References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield, American Conifer Society, Fire Effects Information System, 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