Pinyon pine
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Section Cembroides |
The pinyon pines (or piņon pines), are a group of pines, which grow in the southwestern United States and Mexico; they yield edible pinyon nuts, which were a staple of the Native Americans, and are still widely eaten. The fragrance of the wood, especially when burned is unmistakable.
There are eight species of true pinyons (Pinus subsection Cembroides):
- Pinus cembroides – Mexican Pinyon
- Pinus orizabensis – Orizaba Pinyon
- Pinus johannis – Johann's Pinyon or Border Pinyon (includes P. discolor)
- Pinus culminicola – Potosi Pinyon
- Pinus remota – Texas Pinyon or Papershell Pinyon
- Pinus edulis – Colorado Pinyon or Two-needle Pinyon
- Pinus monophylla – Single-leaf Pinyon
- Pinus quadrifolia – Parry Pinyon (includes P. juarezensis)
These additional Mexican species are also related and mostly called pinyons:
- Pinus rzedowskii – Rzedowski's Pine
- Pinus pinceana – Weeping Pinyon
- Pinus maximartinezii – Big-cone Pinyon
- Pinus nelsonii – Nelson's Pinyon
as are also the three bristlecone pines of the high mountains of the SW USA, and the Lacebark Pines of Asia.
Some of the species are known to hybridise, most notably P. quadrifolia with P. monophylla, and P. edulis with P. monophylla.
The Pinyon Jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus) takes its name from the tree, and pinyon nuts form an important part of its diet. It is very important for regeneration of pinyon woods, as it stores large numbers of the seeds in the ground for later use, and excess seeds not used are in an ideal position to grow to form new trees. The Mexican Jay is also important for the dispersal of some species, and less often also the Clark's Nutcracker. Many other species of animal also eat pinyon nuts, though they do not disperse the seeds usefully.
External links
- Pine classification (http://www.pinetum.org/Lovett/classification.htm)
- Arboretum de Villardebelle (http://www.pinetum.org/cones/PNDucampopinus.htm) Images of the cones of all the pinyons and allied pines
- Pinus monophylla (http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/pinmon/introductory.html) U.S. Forest Service
- Pinus cembroides (http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/pincem/introductory.html) U.S. Forest Service
- Pinus quadrifolia (http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/pinqua/introductory.html) U.S. Forest Service
- Pinus edulis (http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/pinedu/introductory.html) U.S. Forest Service