Arizona pine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Arizona pine |
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| Pinus arizonica sapling | |
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| Natural range of Pinus arizonica
green: Pinus arizonica var. arizonica
red: Pinus arizonica var. stormiae
blue: P. ponderosa ssp. brachyptera
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The Arizona pine (scientific name: Pinus arizonica) is a medium-sized pine tree. You can find it growing in northern Mexico and parts of the southwestern United States. This includes southeast Arizona, southwest New Mexico, and western Texas.
These trees can grow quite tall, reaching about 25 to 35 meters (around 80 to 115 feet). Their trunks can also become very wide, up to 1.2 meters (about 4 feet) across. The needles of the Arizona pine usually grow in bundles of 3, 4, or 5. Most often, you'll see them in bundles of 5. Sometimes, these pines might mix with the ponderosa pine. This mixing is called hybridization. The cones of the Arizona pine are 5 to 11 centimeters (about 2 to 4 inches) long. They can grow alone, in pairs, or in groups of three.
How Arizona Pines Are Classified
For a long time, many people thought the Arizona pine was just a type of Ponderosa pine. However, since 1997, most experts agree it is its own unique species. This means it's now seen as a different kind of tree.
There are three main types, or varieties, of Arizona pine:
- Pinus arizonica var. arizonica: This type is found mostly in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range. It grows from Arizona and New Mexico down through Mexico. You can see it in places like Chihuahua, Durango, Sonora, Sinaloa, Coahuila, and Nuevo León.
- Pinus arizonica var. stormiae: This variety lives in the Sierra Madre Oriental mountains. Its range goes from Coahuila and Nuevo León south to Tamaulipas and parts of San Luis Potosí. It might also be found in Big Bend National Park in Texas.
- Pinus arizonica var. cooperi: This type is found in the Sierra Madre Occidental, specifically in Chihuahua and Durango. It was once thought to be a completely separate species. Later, in 1997, it was grouped under Pinus arizonica. Some experts in Mexico still think it should be its own species. Others believe it is more closely related to Hartweg's pine.
What Arizona Pines Are Used For
The Arizona pine is an important tree because its wood is used for building. People also cut it down to use as firewood. Because so many trees have been cut, the large forests of Arizona pine have become much smaller. This is especially true in Mexico.
See also
In Spanish: Pino de Arizona para niños
