IDENTIFICATION
There are more than a hundred species of pine in the world. Distinguishing between the high elevation white pines in western North America can be challenging. Here are a few tips on how to do it.
Rocky Mountain bristlecone pineFoxtail pine
Limber pine Whitebark pine
Great Basin bristlecone pine
Location - The best ways to narrow down your options is to use location maps. However, in some areas two or more 5 - needle white pine species may coexist or grow close together.
Other Distinguishing Factors - When the two or more 5 - needle pines coexist in the same area use these tips:
Limber, Whitebark, versus Great Basin bristlecone
Limber pine:
- Often grows at lower elevations
- higher elevation, moister sites
Great Basin bristlecone pine:
- higher elevation, drier sites on calcium - rich soils
Limber versus Whitebark
Limber pine:
- pollen producing strobuli are yellow
- large woody cones that open when dry, wingless seeds
Whitebark pine:
- pollen producing strobuli are crimson
- smaller cones that do not open when dry, wingless seeds
Limber versus Rocky Mountain Bristlecone
Limber pine:
- large woody cones that open when dry; wingless seeds
- longer needles with no resin (raised white dots) dots
Rocky Mountain bristlecone pine:
- smaller cones with bristles and open when dry; winged seeds
- shorter needles with resin dots
Learn more about the physical characteristics of these high elevation white pines.
Links on tree identification
The National Arbor Day Foundation website
Distinguishing pines of the Southern Rocky Mountains
Distinguishing Great Basin Bristlecone pines from Limber Pines
Sources: 100,101