Name

Pinus cembroides Zucc., Abh. Akad. Muench. 1: 392 (1832).
[Pinyon pine, Mexican nut pine]

Description

Notes

It forms a small, shrub-like tree with rounded crown and a short stem. Bark is thin and scaly, young shoots are dark orange. The sickle-shaped, sharply pointed dark green needles, 2.5-7 cm long, are often in 3s but may be in groups of 2-5. Ovate cones are 3-5 cm long and produce wingless, blackish edible seeds. Some classifications have included the closely related P. edulis and P. monophylla within this species. Some view P. johannis as a synonym of one of the interspecific forms of P. cembroides, while others recognise the former as distinct.

Natural Distribution

Occurs in the mountains of Mexico and SW U.S.A.