Foxtail pine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Foxtail pine |
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| Natural range of Pinus balfouriana |
The Foxtail Pine (scientific name: Pinus balfouriana) is a special type of pine tree. It's quite rare and only grows high up in the mountains of California, United States. This tree is related to other well-known pines like the Great Basin and Rocky Mountain bristlecone pines.
You can find Foxtail Pines in two main areas that are far apart. One group lives in the southern Klamath Mountains. The other group lives in the southern Sierra Nevada.
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What Does a Foxtail Pine Look Like?
Foxtail Pines are medium-sized trees. They usually grow about 10 to 20 meters (30 to 65 feet) tall. Some can even reach 35 meters (115 feet)! Their trunks can be up to 2 meters (6.5 feet) wide.
Their leaves are like needles. They grow in bundles of five, and sometimes four. Each needle is about 2 to 4 centimeters (1 to 1.5 inches) long. They are a shiny deep green on the outside. The inside of the needles looks white. These needles stay on the tree for a very long time, usually 10 to 15 years!
The tree's cones are about 6 to 11 centimeters (2.5 to 4.5 inches) long. When they are young, they are dark purple. As they get older, they turn a reddish-brown color. Each scale on the cone has a tiny prickle, about 1 millimeter (1/16 inch) long.
Where Do Foxtail Pines Live?
Foxtail Pines like to live in high places. In the Klamath Mountains, you can find them at elevations from 1,950 to 2,750 meters (6,400 to 9,000 feet). In the Sierra Nevada, they grow even higher. There, they live between 2,300 and 3,500 meters (7,500 to 11,500 feet) above sea level.
In the Sierra Nevada, these trees are mostly found near Sequoia National Park and Kings Canyon National Park. In both mountain ranges, Foxtail Pines often grow right at the tree line. This is the highest point where trees can still grow before it gets too cold and windy.
How Old Can Foxtail Pines Get?
Foxtail Pines are known for living a very long time. Scientists believe some of these trees in the Sierra Nevada could live for up to 3,000 years! The oldest one that has been officially measured is 2,110 years old. That's older than many ancient civilizations!
In the Klamath Mountains, the oldest known Foxtail Pines are about 1,000 years old.
Family Tree: Related Pines
The Foxtail Pine is closely related to the famous bristlecone pines. They are all part of the same group of pines called Balfourianae.
Scientists have even managed to cross a Foxtail Pine with a Great Basin Bristlecone Pine in special growing areas. However, these mixed trees have never been found growing naturally in the wild.
See also
In Spanish: Pino de Balfour para niños
