What is the common name for Pinus contorta?
lodgepole pine
Pinus contorta, with the common names lodgepole pine and shore pine, and also known as twisted pine, and contorta pine, is a common tree in western North America. It is common near the ocean shore and in dry montane forests to the subalpine, but is rare in lowland rain forests.
What is contorta tree?
Names: Contorta means twisted, referring to the young shoots. It is called Shore Pine or Beach Pine because it is often found along the Northwest coast. The Lodgepole pine, Pinus contorta var. latifolia (latifolia=broad-leaved) is a variety known for its tall, straight trunks, common in the Rocky Mountains.
How fast do lodgepole pines grow?
to 24″ per year
Growth Rate This tree grows at a slow to medium rate, with height increases of anywhere from less than 12″ to 24″ per year.
Is lodgepole pine invasive?
It is now considered an invasive pest, as it has spread beyond its native range. Mountain pine beetle is an insect, native to western North America, where its main host is lodgepole pine. The beetles invade the trunk and overwhelm the tree’s ability to produce resin to drown or pitch out the beetles.
What are lodgepole pines good for?
The wood of Sierra lodgepole pine is straight grained, light, and uniform in texture, with small knots, making it suitable for lumber, plywood, and paneling. It is used for light framing materials, doors, windows, and furniture.
How do you grow Pinus contorta?
Plant seeds in the fall after collection or in the spring after cold stratification. Seeds should germinate in 30-50 days. Full sun required for germination in natural conditions. Be sure to keep soil moist in the first weeks after germination.
Do lodgepole pines need fire?
Luckily for the species, though, the average serotinous cone can remain on the tree for at least 15 years. And some last for decades. In addition to unsealing its cones, fire creates the perfect soil for lodgepole seedlings.
Where do lodgepole pines live?
Lodgepole pine is a species which grows throughout the west, as far north as the Yukon and south to Baja California. It ranges east to the Black Hills of South Dakota and west all the way to the Pacific Ocean.
Can you build with lodgepole pine?
Oftentimes, lodgepole pine lumber and ponderosa pine lumber are grouped together. They are similar in processing and properties. Both are moderately strong softwoods, making them ideal for construction.
Where do lodgepole pines grow best?
Lodgepole pine grows on a wide variety of soils, from water-logged organic soils to well-drained glacial outwashes. It grows best in moist soils derived from granite, shale, and coarse grained lavas. It also grows in soils with underlying hardpan.
What are the different types of Pinus contorta?
Pinus contortaincludes 4 distinctly different varieties that are interfertile. In addition to Rocky Mountain lodgepole pine, these are shore pine (P. contortavar. contorta), Sierra lodgepole pine (P. contortavar. murrayana), and Bolander pine (P. contorta var. bolanderi) [58,309].
Who is the author of Pinus contorta var latifolia?
Syn: Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelmann 1871; P. tenuis Lemmon (Critchfield 1957).
How are Pinus contorta and p.banksiana related?
Pinus contorta subsp. latifolia and P. banksiana are very closely related, and hybridize readily where their ranges overlap in Canada (Critchfield 1980, Krajina et al. 1982).
How tall does a Pinus contorta tree grow?
P. contorta subsp. latifolia will hybridize with the closely related Jack pine – Pinus banksiana. Description. Depending on subspecies, Pinus contorta grows as an evergreen shrub or tree. Subspecies contorta is a shrub form (krummholz) and grows to mature heights of approximately 3.5 to 10 feet (1 to 3 m) in height.