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Ponderosa or yellow pine
Pinus ponderosa
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 A large-crowned tree with a straight trunk, usually about 25 to 30 metres tall, but
sometimes reaching a height of 50 metres and a diameter of 2 metres.
Leaves
Needles occur in bunches of three (occasionally both twos and threes), 12
to 28 centimetres long, slender, with sharp points and sharply toothed edges. |
Cones
Seed cones are narrowly oval when closed, 7 to 14 centimetres long, with
no stalk. The scales get thicker towards the tip and have a sharp, rigid prickle. Seeds
have a 2.5 centimetre wing. |
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Bark
Blackish, rough, and scaly on young trees; on mature trees the bark is
very thick (up to 10 centimetres), bright orangey-brown, and deeply grooved into flat,
flaky plates. Where to find
ponderosa or yellow pine
It is the characteristic tree of the southern Interior. |
Habitat
Ponderosa pine occurs on a variety of soils, from extremely dry to
well-drained, relatively deep, moist soils. It grows in pure, open, park-like groups at
lower elevations. At higher elevations it grows with Interior Douglas-fir. Ponderosa
pine has a long, deep root that enables it to access the deeper, moister soil. The long
root also makes it quite wind-firm. These trees can live as long as 400 to 500 years. |
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| Fires are common in ponderosa pine forests and the thick bark protects the trees from
the frequent ground fires that lightly burn fallen needles and dead grass. It is common to
see fire scars on older trees. Uses
Aboriginal people in the Interior of British Columbia had many uses for
ponderosa pine. They ate the seeds and inner bark of both the ponderosa and the whitebark
pine.
Some Interior groups used the wood for making dugout canoes. They used the pitch for
waterproofing moccasins and other items. They also mixed it with bear grease and used it
as an ointment for sores and inflamed eyes.
The wood is used mainly for doors, windows, and furniture, as well as paneling and
shelving.
Notes
For many, the name ponderosa conjures up romantic images of the
wide-open spaces of the untamed West. However, David Douglas named the tree because of its
ponderous size. The other common name, yellow pine, refers to the clear, even-grained wood
that is found in very old, large trees.
On a hot day, the bark of the ponderosa pine smells like vanilla and when you break a
young twig it smells somewhat like oranges. |
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