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Home , Pinus edulis, Pinus monophylla, Pinyon pine

Pinyon Engelm.; Pinus discolor D.K. Bailey & Hawksw.; Torr. & Frém.

Species description Pinyon are small, evergreen, drought-hardy, long-lived coniferous native to the U.S. Southwest and northern . The trees have relatively short, low branching trunks and stocky limbs, conic or rounded crowns, and greyish-brown, shallowly furrowed bark. The needles may be 2-4 inches long, grow singly (Pinus monophylla) or in pairs (P. edulis), and remain on the for six to nine years. Pinyon pines are monoecious and wind pollinated. Pollen cones are ellipsoid and yellowish to red-brown in color. cones are 1-1.5 inches long, irregular and rounded. Cones may contain 10-20 soft-shelled . Pinyon seeds (nuts) are reddish to yellow-brown, resinous, and oval to globular in shape. The seed cones mature over two years, shedding their seeds and falling to the ground soon after.

Natural and cultural history The species are widespread throughout , , , and , with small populations in eastern , southern , western , trans-Pecos , and Chihuahua, Mexico. occurs primarily on high plains, plateaus, mesas, canyons, foothills, and mountain slopes. The species are often co-dominant with (Juniperus spp.) in expansive pinyon-juniper woodlands across these semi-desert regions. Pinyon nuts were a staple food in Native American diets and were eaten raw, roasted, or ground into flour. Seed crops are erratic, depending on moisture, and migrations of indigenous peoples in these areas were often determined by the locations of pinyon seed crops. Pinyon pine needles were steeped for tea, and the inner bark served as starvation food. Native Americans still use the pitch as a sealing compound for watertight baskets. Pinyon pines of the southwestern U.S. produce the pinyon nuts of commerce. Annual harvest of pinyon nuts exceeds 1 million pounds. Raw or roasted shelled pinyon nuts are the most important wild-harvested crop in the U.S.; singleleaf pinyon pine (P. monophylla) nuts are larger and more desirable than those of other species.

Planting considerations and propagation techniques Pinyon pine trees are slow growing, and may reach 10 to 60 feet in height, with a canopy diameter of 15 to 40 feet. Trees reach cone-bearing age when they are about 25 years old. The trees produce well up to 100 years old, and continue to produce smaller quantities of seeds for 200+ years. The oldest documented tree is nearly 1,000 years old. The trees are highly drought and cold tolerant; they grow at elevations of 4,000-9,000 feet and may be hardy to -31ºF. Pinyon pines can tolerate a wide range of growing conditions and soil types, including dry, gravelly, and rocky soils, though they thrive in light well-drained sandy or gravelly loam soils. The trees are wind pollinated. They can be planted as windbreaks and used in drought tolerant landscaping to provide shade and aesthetics as well as wildlife food and habitat. Propagation of pinyon pine can be challenging; cold stratification of seeds for 30-60 days and leaching for 48 hours may increase germination speed. Sow seeds in moist soil in fall to late winter. seedlings out into their permanent positions as soon as possible and protect them for the first few years from weed competition and extreme temperatures.

Water needs Precipitation in native habitat ranges from 10-22 inches, and pinyon pines are adapted to highly variable moisture conditions. Once established, the trees are highly drought tolerant if planted within their native range.

Care Pests that affect pinyon pine include pinebark beetles, needle scale, cone moths, pinyon cone beetle, and pinyon blister rust. The trees are not usually pruned, except to remove dead limbs over time.

Harvesting and processing Pinyon pine nuts (seeds) may be used toasted or raw in sweet and savory dishes as well as ground into flour or nut butter. They are a common food of many Southwestern tribes, and annual harvests are estimated at several million pounds. Nut crops are not produced every year, so it is best to pay attention to the cones as they mature. Use a ladder to reach the cones, and wear gloves to protect your hands from sap. Another method is to spread a tarp beneath the tree and knock against the cones to shake the nuts loose. Cones can be picked before they are opened and stored in burlap sacks for several days. Shake and turn the sacks to dislodge the nuts from the cones. The nuts can be shelled and then eaten raw or roasted, or the nuts can be roasted before shelling.

References and resources Anderson, Michelle D. 2002. Pinus edulis. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/. Accessed June 17, 2015. Earle, C. J. (ed). 2015. Pinus edulis. The Gymonsperm Database. http://www.conifers.org/pi/Pinus_edulis.php.

2 Frank P. R. 2004. Pinus edulis Engelm In: Silvics Manual, Volume 1, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service. http://www.na.fs.fed.us/pubs/silvics_manual/Volume_1/pinus/edulis.htm Accessed June 17, 2015. Krugman, S. L. and Jenkinson, J. L. 2008. Pinaceae—Pine family. In Department of Agriculture Forest Service Agriculture Handbook 727 - The Woody Plant Seed Manual: A Handbook on Seeds of Trees and Shrubs. http://www.nsl.fs.fed.us/Pinus.pdf. for a Future (PFAF). Pinus edulis — Engelm. http://www.pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Pinus+edulis

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