Jeffrey pine

Pinus jeffreyi

Family: Pinaceae.

Type: Large evergreen conifer.

Leaves: Needles, like the ponderosa, are long in bundles of three with a persistent bundle sheath.

Twig: The bark is very similar to that of the ponderosa, with very large puzzle pieces that are orange to yellow. The gaps in the trunk smell of pineapple, particularly in direct sun, in contrast to the vanilla smell of the Ponderosa.

Cone: Like other yellow pines, the cones are egg-shaped and cylindrical, with a very woody feel. Like ponderosa cones, Jeffrey cones break off and fall missing a chunk at their base. The prickles on the Jeffrey pine's cones curve inward, so they do not poke you if you pet the cone: "gentle Jeffrey". The Jeffrey's cones are larger than those of the ponderosa, too. The unopened cones are heavy and greenish.

Miscellaneous: The Jeffrey pine is the upper montane analogue of the ponderosa pine. The Jeffrey and the Ponderosa do overlap in range, and will hybridize. The Jeffrey is found at higher altitudes, in poor, dry soils; it will grow even in very rocky areas, and is very drought-tolerant. The Jeffrey is fire-resistant and shade-intolerant like the ponderosa.