Ponderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum
Family: Pinaceae
What it is like
A hard pine. It is a large tree. It grows to 35 m high and 100 cm across the trunk. The bark is dark grey, rough and scaly. It becomes orange brown and cracked with age. It forms large thick flaky plates. The lower branches droop. The crown is wide and can be flat topped. The needles are in bundles of 3. They are 12-25 cm long. They are straight and stiff but flexible. They are yellowish-green and very sharp. The edges are sharply toothed. The seed cones are oval and 7-15 cm long. They are reddish-brown and hang down. They are often in groups of 3 and are almost stalkless. They are thickened at the tips. They open at maturity to release the seeds. The seeds are mottled dark brown and 7 mm long. They have a boat shaped wing at the tip.
There are over 100 species of Pinus.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It grows on mountain slopes in North America. It grows in areas subject to frequent forest fires. It will grow on a variety of soils. It cannot tolerate shade. It suits hardiness zones 3-9. ACT Yarralumla. In Hobart Botanical gardens.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia, Britain, Canada, Central America, China, Europe, Mexico, North America, Tasmania, USA
How it is used for food
The inner bark is eaten. It is the cambium layer between the wood and the bark. It is eaten fresh or roasted. The seeds are eaten raw. The leaves are used for tea. Caution: The tea should not be drunk in large amounts. It should not be drunk by pregnant women.
Edible parts
Seeds, bark
How it is grown
Trees can live for several hundred years. They develop seed crops every 2-5 years. The cambium is harvested from young trees or from twigs on older trees. It is best collected on cool, cloudy days when the sap is running. The scales from the cones are collected and dried until the seeds can be shaken out.
Its other names
Local names
Bull Pine, Western Yellow Pine