Bull Pine, Ponderosa Pine, Western Yellow Pine
Pinus ponderosa var. ponderosa
Synonyms: Pinus beardsleyi, Pinus benthamiana, Pinus washoensis
The photo above shows one bundle of three ponderosa
pine needles, a characteristic of this species. The yellow-green needles measure
12-25 cm long. The female cones are symmetrical at the base and measure from
8-14 cm long. Photographed along the Island Springs Trail #66 on the eastern
slopes of Mt. Adams..........August 25, 2005.
The photo above shows the upper portion of
a fairly mature ponderosa pine seen along the upper section of the Island Springs
Trail #66...........August 25, 2005. Mature ponderosa pines may
attain heights of 70 meters. The bark at the base of older trees often turns
cinammon red, becoming very thick with many layers of large plates of bark which
can flake off fairly easily.
The photo above shows a close-up of the cinnamon-colored
bark of ponderosa pine as seen along the Island Springs Trail on the eastern
slopes of Mt. Adams.........August 25, 2005.
The photo above shows the female cone of ponderosa pine as seen
on the Aiken Lava Flow at the trailhead for the Snipes Mt. Trail.........October
14, 2005. The female cones are about 7-15 cm long with heavy scales, each bearing
a thin but sharp prickle.
The photo above shows the male, pollen-bearing cone of ponderosa
pine as seen on the Aiken Lava Flow at the trailhead for the Snipes Mt. Trail.........October
14, 2005.
The same tree as directly above, seen from a greater distance.
The photo above shows the same tree as the
photos above, looking upwards into the crown of the tree. Notice how the upper
branches turn sharply towards the west, possibly the result of strong easterly
winds (curing the winter?).
The 2 photos directly above shows one section
of the "jigsaw puzzle" bark of ponderosa pine. The outer bark is viewed
in the uppermost photo, while the inner surface is in thelower photo. Photographed
from trees on the lowest elevation sections of the Aiken Lava Flow at the Snipes
Mt. Trailhead...........October 14, 2005.
The photo above shows a large ponderosa pine
as seen at about 4300' on the ridge separating the Dairy Creek and Cougar Creek
drainages.........May 23, 2005.
A view from beneath a large ponderosa pine as seen along the Island Springs Trail, Tract D Yakama lands at the southeastern corner of Mt. Adams...........August 13, 2012.
Paul Slichter