FRI BULLETIN No. 124 FORESTRY
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~~~· FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE !NN511NCF FRI BULLETIN No. 124 FORESTRY INTRODUCED FOREST TREES IN NEW ZEALAND: RECOGNITION, ROLE, AND SEED SOURCE 10. Ponderosa and Jeffrey pines Pinus ponderosa P. Lawson et Lawson Pinus jeffreyi Grev. et Balf. R.D. BURDON, J.T. MILLER and F.B. KNOWLES This FRI Bulletin series was compiled for people with an interest in the introduced trees of New Zealand, such as foresters, farm foresters, nurserymen, and students. It includes: l. PirlUs nigraArn.-European black pine 2. Pinus contorta Loudon-contorta pine 3. The larches-Larix decidua Miller, Larix kaempferi (Lambert) Carr., Larix x eurolepis A. Henry 4. Pinus mugo Turra-dwarf mountain pine; Pinus uncinata Mirbel-mountain pine 5. Pinus attenuata Lemmon-knobcone pine 6. The spruces-Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carriere, Picea abies (L.) Karsten, ornamental spruces 7. The silver firs-Abies spp. 8. Pinus pinaster Aiton-maritime pine 9. 111e cypresses-Cupressus spp.; Chamaecyparis spp. FRI BULLETIN No. 124 INTRODUCED FOREST TREES IN NEW ZEALAND: RECOGNITION, ROLE, AND SEED SOURCE 10. PONDEROSA AND JEFFREY PINES Pinus ponderosa P. Lawson et Lawson Pinus jeffreyi Grev. et Balf. R.D. Burdon, J.T. Miller and F.B. Knowles MINISTRY OF FORESTRY, FOREST RESEARCH INSTITUTE, PRIVATE BAG 3020, ROTORUA, NEW ZEALAND 1991 THE AUTHORS Rowland Burdon (B.Sc. B.A. (For.), Ph. D.) and John Miller (B.Sc.(For.)) are scientists working with the Genetics and Tree Improvement section of the Forest Research Institute, Rototrua. Barbara Knowles (B.Sc.) is a scientist working in the FRI herbarium. ISSN 0111-8129 ODC: 174.7 PiT1Us ponderosa (931): 232 Shelterbelt of Pinus ponderosa aged 28 years in the MacKenzie country near Mt. Cook CONTENTS Abstract 1 Introduction and Histo:ry Histo:ry in New Zealand 1 Natural Distribution 2 Provenance Variation 2 New Zealand Provenance Trials 4 Pests and Diseases 8 Recognition Pinus ponderosa P. Lawson et Lawson -ponderosa pine 9 Pinusje.ffreyi Grev. et Balf. - Jeffrey pine 10 Role of the Species Present Extent 11 Growth and Yield 14 Wood Properties and Uses 15 Regeneration 17 Siting 17 Silviculture 18 The Future Role of the Species 19 Seed Source 21 Seed Users' Guide A Collection and Extraction of Seed 21 B. Nurse:ry Practice 22 C. Recommended Seed Sources 22 References and Further Reading 22 Acknowledgements 23 ABSTRACT This booklet, the tenth in the Bulletin No. 124 series, provides an account of Pinus ponderosa and Pinus je.ffreyi in New Zealand. It covers their introduction and history, variation, and recognition, and their performance and role as exotic forest species. Information is also provided on the location and quality of current local seed sources, and on collection and handling of seed. KEYWORDS: Pinus ponderosa, Pinusje.ffreyi, exotic species, New Zealand, taxonomy, provenances, seed sources. INTRODUCTION AND HISTORY Pinus ponderosa is native to western North America where it was formerly one of the most widespread and highly valued species of the virgin forests, and today is still an important component of second-growth forest. Pinus je.ffreyi has a more restricted natural range than P. ponderosa, being found only in California and adjoining states; where their ranges overlap the two species occur in mixed stands. Pinus je.ffreyi closely resembles P. ponderosa in appearance and wood properties and for a long time was regarded as a variety of this species. Of the two species, only P. ponderosa has been planted widely within New Zealand. For over 30 years it ranked second only toP. radiata in planted area; since the 1960s, however, its role has declined dramatically. These species are now of interest for planting only in the South Island, in areas where there is a semi-continental climate (i.e. cold winters and dry hot summers) - principally inland areas of Canterbury and Otago. History in New Zealand Pinus ponderosa was first introduced to New Zealand by T.H. Potts in 1865. He brought in at least two forms to Lyttelton, one under the name Pinus benthamiana. In 1868 both these forms were recorded at Hutt, near Wellington (Weston, 1957). J.B.A. Acland, who founded the Mt. Peel sheep station, imported P. ponderosa from England, and planted it in the 1860s. It was also planted at Albury, South Canterbury, in 1869. Repeated seed importations have since been made, including a number by Sir James Hector, Director of the Geological Survey, which were widely distributed during the 1870s. The ease of establishment and hardiness of P. ponderosa resulted in its widespread use in scattered shelterbelts and woodlots in the central South Island where it still features prominently. In 1890, it was planted in Raincliff Forest, South Canterbury, and from 1891 in Selwyn Plantation Board areas. Before World War I, it was planted in State Forests at Naseby and elsewhere, but the main plantings, of about 27,000 ha, were made by the State Forest Service during the 1920s and 1930s from fresh seed importations. In 1955, the total area of P. ponderosa stood at nearly 40,000 ha, 80% of which was concentrated in the Volcanic Plateau of the central North Island. Despite early recognition of provenance variation in P. ponderosa, over 90% of the plantings made during the 1920s to the 1940s consisted of inferior, or even grossly inappropriate provenances. This resulted from a policy of giving preference to imports from Commonwealth countries, the Canadian Forest Service being the principal supplier of P. ponderosa seed during this time. In the mid-1960s the fungus Dothistromapini, which causes needle blight in many pine species, arrived in New Zealand, and P. ponderosa was one of the species most severely 2 affected. Subsequently, research carried out in the late 1960s and early 1970s showed conclusively that, with appropriate establishment and nursery techniques, the faster-growing P. radiata could be established on most of the difficult growing sites previously relegated to P. ponderosa. Since then the tendency has been to rapidly utilise the main areas of P. ponderosa and replant with P. radiata. Pfnus jeifreyi was first recorded in New Zealand growing near Wellington in 1865 (Ludlam 1868). Subsequently, several seed importations were made, including at least one by Hector, but only small, widely scattered plantings resulted, for example those at Raincliff Forest (1890), and at Waiotapu, Hanmer and Naseby State Forests (1901-1910). About 20 ha of P. jeifreyi were planted in the 1960s at Naseby and Ranklebum State Forests, using locally collected seed, but the species has never been planted on a large scale. Natural Distribution Pfnus ponderosa is one of the most widely distributed Pfnus species in North America. As shown in Figure 1, in the west its range extends from just north of the Mexican border (Lat. 33° N) to southem British Columbia (Lat. 51 o N) ; and in the east from the Dakotas into Nebraska (where it reaches Long. 99° W), south to Colorado and New Mexico (to Lat. 33° N). The more southerly 'var. arizontca' is now treated as a separate species, P. artzontca. Within the general boundaries of its distribution, P. ponderosa tends to have a discontinuous occurrence, particularly in the southem part of its range. It is absent from a large arid area east of the San Bemardino Mountains, the Sierra Nevada and the Southem Cascades. Within the vast geographic range of P. ponderosa, there is great environmental diversity. The species is found at altitudes ranging from less than 300 m in the Coast Ranges, to over 2750 m in the Sierra Nevada, and to around 3300 m in the southem Rocky Mountain areas, tending to be at higher altitudes in the lower latitudes. It grows on a wide variety of soil types, including soils of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary origin, but is generally absent from serpentine areas. Precipitation (as rain and snow) varies considerably within the species' natural range. In the west, it is up to 1700 mm or more and tends to fall mainly in winter. In the east it is generally less (sometimes as low as 300 mm) but is more evenly distributed through the year. Winter snowpack occurs at higher altitudes. Under relatively low precipitation P. ponderosa often occurs as pure stands, otherwise it tends to be associated with several other species, notably westem larch (La.rix occidentalis) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesiO. A fire-induced parkland stand structure clearly helps the species to remain healthy on dry sites. Pfnus jeifreyi has a much more restricted range than P. ponderosa. It extends across the Sierra Nevada in Califomia with scattered populations in the Coast Range of Califomia and southwestem Oregon, and also occurs in the higher mountains of southem California and northem Baja Califomia, Mexico. The natural range is bounded roughly by latitudes 29° N and 43° N in the southeast, and by longitudes 117° Wand 124° Win the northwest (Fig. 1). Although the two species overlap considerably in the Sierra Nevada, P.jeifreyi tends to occur at higher altitudes (to 3100 m) and to extend slightly further east than P. ponderosa. In the Coast Range it tends to be concentrated on serpentine soils. Provenance Variation Pfnus ponderosa shows extreme variation between populations This variability has led to the recognition of at least two varieties, and of races within varieties. Additionally, within races, there is continuous (or 'clinal') variation with altitude and latitude. 3 I I I I Alberta I Saskatchewan I Manitoba I Nevada ' ' '\ ' '\ " '\ ---_I_----- ' ' ~ I> '\ .. 1___ _9Js.l'!b<;ma '\ .\ I I , 1 I I I I New 1 I ., Mexico • ~, : Texas -)< PINUS JEFFR EYI •X ISOLATED OCCURRENCES Chihuah ua P. PONDEROSA + P. JEFFR EYI I I • KILOMETRES (" \ 0 200 400 600 800 I Fig. 1- Natural distribution of Pinus ponderosa P.