Coulter pine

The Coulter pine or big-cone pine, Pinus coulteri, is a native of the coastal mountains of Southern California in the United States and northern Baja California in Mexico. Isolated groves are found as far north as Clearlake, California on the flanks of Mt. Konocti and Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve. It is named after Thomas Coulter, an Irish botanist and physician. The Coulter pine produces the heaviest cone of any pine tree, up to 5 kg (11 lb).

Coulter pine
Pinus coulteri
A Pinus coulteri seed cone at Mount Wilson, California
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
(unranked): Gymnosperms
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Family: Pinaceae
Genus: Pinus
Subgenus: P. subg. Pinus
Section: P. sect. Trifoliae
Subsection: P. subsect. Ponderosae
Species:
P. coulteri
Binomial name
Pinus coulteri
Natural range

Although it has a limited range in the wild, the Coulter pine is a popular ornamental tree and is grown in many countries including the Netherlands.

Description

Pinus coulteri is a substantial coniferous evergreen tree in the genus Pinus. The size ranges from 10–24 m (33–79 ft) tall,[2] and a trunk diameter up to 1 m (3.3 ft). The trunk is vertical and branches horizontal to upcurved. The leaves are needle-like, in bundles of three, glaucous gray-green, 15–30 cm (5.9–11.8 in) long and stout, 2 mm (0.079 in) thick.

The outstanding characteristic of this tree is the large, spiny cones which are 20–40 cm (7.9–15.7 in) long, 23 centimeters (nine inches) in width,[3] and weigh 2–5 kg (4.4–11.0 lb) when fresh. Coulter pines produce the largest cones of any pine tree species and people are advised to wear hardhats when working in Coulter pine groves, although the slender cones of the sugar pine are longer. The large size of the cones has earned them the nickname "widowmakers" among locals.

Ecology

The Coulter pine is closely related to the foothill pine, Pinus sabiniana. It is more distantly related to Jeffrey pine with which it shares habitats, and the ponderosa pine.[4] Coulter pines tend to grow in drier environments than ponderosa and Jeffery pines.

This erect, medium-sized pine prefers south-facing slopes between 200–2,300 m (660–7,550 ft) elevation, and tolerates dry rocky soil. Pinus coulteri most often appears in mixed forests. The Coulter pine occurs in a number of forest plant associations; for example, At higher elevations forestation of the San Jacinto Mountains Coulter Pine is co-dominant with the California black oak.[5] Woodpeckers often forage on the species, and peel the bark to access insects underneath.[6]

Uses

Wildlife, especially squirrels, gather the large seeds. They were also once eaten by Native Americans.[7]

The wood is weak and soft, so that the species is little used other than for firewood.

Pinus coulteri is cultivated as an ornamental tree, planted in parks and large gardens, and drought tolerant landscaping. The Coulter pine has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[8]

  • Pollen cones
  • Mature tree, as seen from under branches at ground level
  • Close-up of bark detail
  • Foliage and cones
  • Cones on ground in their natural setting
  • Large cone, found at 4,150 ft elevation in the Santa Lucia Ranger District of the Los Padres National Forest, California Coastal Range of the Central Coast.
  • Exceptional cone example, shown with needle cluster (soda can for scale).
  • Cone
  • Close-up of spiral detail
  • Close-up of barb detail
  • Seeds

References
  1. Farjon 2013.
  2. Gymnosperm Database.
  3. Gardener's Chronicle Volume 23 (third series)(March 28, 1885) Page 415
  4. Cope 1993.
  5. Hogan 2008.
  6. NWF Field Guide.
  7. Whitney, Stephen (1985). Western Forests (The Audubon Society Nature Guides). New York: Knopf. p. 410. ISBN 0-394-73127-1.
  8. RHS Gardening.

Bibliography
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