The green links below add additional plants to the comparison table. Blue links lead to other Web sites.
enable glossary links

knobcone pine

Habit Trees to 30 m tall; mature crown conic to rounded, often many branched.
Buds

oblong-ovoid, dark brown, resinous.

Leaves

in clusters of 3; straight to slightly curved, twisted, 8–14 cm × 1–2 mm; yellowish green;

margins serrulate; all surfaces with white stomatal bands;

apex sharp callous-tipped;

sheaths persistent.

Pollen cones

ellipsoid, 10–15 mm long, light brown to orange brown.

Seeds

oblong-oval; sharp pointed, 6–7 mm long; black;

wings 3 times as long as body.

Trunks

to 1 m in diameter; straight;

bark purplish to dark brown; smooth when young, shallowly fissured into scaly plates when mature;

branches ascending;

twigs dark yellow brown, roughened by bud-scales.

Seed cones

oblique-ovoid; very asymmetric, 6–15 cm long, light brown to reddish brown, reflexed to recurved;

stalks less than 1 cm long, maturing in 2 years, remaining closed for several decades or opening at burning;

umbos central; pyramidal; sharp pointed, prickled.

2n

=24.

Pinus attenuata

Distribution
[WildflowerSearch map]
[BONAP county map]
Discussion

Chaparral. 300–1600 m. Casc, Est, Sisk, WV. CA; south to Mexico. Native.

The cones of this species will generally not open unless exposed to the heat of fire. Pinus attenuata × radiata plantations have been planted in Oregon.

Source Flora of Oregon, volume 1, page 120
Stephen Meyers
Sibling taxa
P. albicaulis, P. attenuata x Pinus radiata, P. balfouriana, P. contorta, P. flexilis, P. jeffreyi, P. lambertiana, P. monophylla, P. monticola, P. muricata, P. pinaster, P. ponderosa, P. sabiniana, P. sylvestris
Web links