PONDEROSA PINE
pinus ponderosa

• also known as Western Yellow Pine, Bull Pine, Pondosa Pine, Rock Pine
• it was named because of its ponderous size
• is the only native British Columbia pine with bundles of three needles

UNIQUE FEATURES:

• has a large crown, straight trunk
• the bark and cones are good for quick hot fires
• wolf lichen grows on the trunks and dead branches
• has a log, deep root system that enables it to access deep water and keep the tree from blowing over
• can live as long as 400 to 500 years

LOCATION:

• is found in the southern interior of British Columbia
• can grow in a variety of soils; from extremely dry to deep, moist, well-drained areas
• can be found in both high and low elevations

SIZE:

• average about 25 to 30 metres tall; but can reach up to 50 metres tall and 2 metres in diameter

CONES:

• narrow, oval shape
• 7 to 14 cm long
• scales thicker towards the tip with a rigid prickle on the end
• 2.5 cm wing on seeds

NEEDLES:

• occur in bunches of three
• 12 to 28 cm in length, thin and pointed with toothed edges

BARK:

• when young: black, rough and scaly
• when mature: thick, bright orangey-brown, deeply grooved into jig-saw like flakes
• the thick bark protects the tree from ground fires
• on a hot day the bark smells like vanilla
• a young twig smells faintly of oranges

WOOD CHARACTERISTICS:

• knotty
• clear, even grained

USES:

• modern - doors, windows, furniture, paneling, shelving
• traditional - seeds/inner bark: food; wood: dugout canoes; pitch: waterproofing, ointment