British Columbia Outdoor Wilderness Guide |
WHITEBARK
PINE
pinus albicaulis
- The
Whitebark Pine is also known as Scrub Pine
- The
name 'albicaulis' means the "pine with white
stems" because of the white bark evident in
young trees
- The
Whitebark Pine can be in the shape of a small
tree with a rapidly spreading trunk and broad
crown or in the shape of a shrub with wide-spreading
crown and twisted, gnarled branches
UNIQUE
FEATURES:
- The
Whitebark Pine is distinguishable from Limber
Pine by the cones
- The
hollows around the roots are used as shelters
by animals and hikers
- The
seeds of the Whitebark Pine are also food
for bears and other animals
LOCATION:
- The
Whitebark Pine is found at high elevations
in southern British Columbia
- Whitebark
Pine likes dry to moderately moist sites
SIZE:
- The
Whitebark Pine grows to either the size of
a small tree or a shrub
CONES/FRUIT:
- egg-shaped
to round
- 3
to 8 cm in length
- grow
at right angles to the branches
- remain
closed on the tree and seeds are only released
when the cone decays on the ground
- seeds
are wingless and about 1 cm long
NEEDLES:
- in
bunches of 5
- 3
to 9 cm long
- slightly
curved, stiff, bluish-green
BARK:
- young
trees: thin, smooth and chalky white
- mature
trees: thick darker bark with ridges
USES:
- traditional
- seeds: food (pinenuts); roots: to sew bark
canoes, weave watertight containers
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