Mexican Pinyon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mexican Pinyon |
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| Mexican pinyon in Sierra de Organos National Park, Sombrerete | |
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Pinus
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| Species: |
cembroides
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The Mexican pinyon (scientific name: Pinus cembroides) is a type of pine tree. People also call it the pinyon pine or Mexican nut pine. It is found in western North America.
This tree grows in places that do not get much rain. Its home stretches from Arizona, Texas, and New Mexico in the United States. It also grows far south into Mexico. You can usually find it on mountains, between 1,600 and 2,400 meters (about 5,200 to 7,900 feet) high.
The Mexican pinyon is a small tree. It can grow up to 20 meters (about 66 feet) tall. Its trunk can be as wide as 50 centimeters (about 20 inches). The tree's large seeds are a food source for animals like the Mexican jay and Abert's squirrel. People also collect these seeds to eat. They are the most common pine nut eaten in Mexico.
Scientists have looked at this pine tree. They say it is a "least concern" plant. This means it is not in danger of disappearing.
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Where Does the Mexican Pinyon Grow?
The Mexican pinyon lives in many places. In the United States, it is found in western Texas. There, it grows only in the Chisos and Davis Mountains.
Its main home is in Mexico. It grows widely along the Sierra Madre Oriental and Sierra Madre Occidental mountain ranges. You can also find it in parts of the eastern Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt. This tree likes areas with little rain. It gets about 380 to 640 millimeters (15 to 25 inches) of rain each year.
A special type, called Pinus orizabensis, grows even farther south in Veracruz. There is also a group of these trees in the Sierra de la Laguna in southern Baja California Sur. Most Mexican pinyons grow at medium heights. This is usually from 1,600 to 2,400 meters (about 5,200 to 7,900 feet) above sea level.
What Does the Mexican Pinyon Look Like?
The Mexican pinyon is a small to medium-sized tree. It can reach 8 to 20 meters (about 26 to 66 feet) tall. Its trunk can be up to 50 centimeters (about 20 inches) wide. The bark is dark brown and thick. It has deep cracks near the bottom of the trunk.
Leaves and Cones
The leaves of the tree are called 'needles'. They grow in groups of two or three. These needles are thin and about 3 to 6 centimeters (1.2 to 2.4 inches) long. They are a dull yellowish-green color.
The tree's cones are round. They are about 3 to 4 centimeters (1.2 to 1.6 inches) long and wide when closed. At first, they are green. After 18 to 20 months, they turn yellow-brown. The cones have only a few thick scales. Usually, 5 to 12 of these scales hold seeds. When the cones are ready, they open up to 4 to 5 centimeters (1.6 to 2 inches) wide. The seeds stay on the scales after the cone opens.
Seeds and Animals
The seeds are about 10 to 12 millimeters (0.4 to 0.5 inches) long. They have a thick shell and a pink inside. They also have a tiny wing, only 2 millimeters (0.08 inches) long.
The Mexican jay helps to spread these seeds. The jay pulls the seeds out of the open cones. These birds use the seeds as a main food source. They also hide many seeds for later. Some of these hidden seeds are not eaten and can grow into new trees. Abert's squirrel also likes to eat these seeds. They prefer them over the seeds of the ponderosa pine.
How Scientists Study the Mexican Pinyon
The Mexican pinyon was the first pinyon pine tree that scientists described. A scientist named Joseph Gerhard Zuccarini named it in 1832. For a long time, many other pinyon pines were thought to be just types or subspecies of the Mexican pinyon.
But in the last 10 to 50 years, new studies have shown that most of these are actually different species. Some scientists still group Johann's pine and Orizaba pinyon with the Mexican pinyon. This is why you might hear about "Mexican pinyon" in southern Arizona and New Mexico.
The Mexican pinyon usually looks the same everywhere it grows. However, there is one group of these trees that is different. This group lives far away in the Sierra de la Laguna pine-oak forests in Baja California Sur. Scientists often call this group Pinus cembroides subspecies lagunae. Some even think it is a completely separate species, P. lagunae. This subspecies has slightly longer leaves, about 4 to 7 centimeters (1.6 to 2.8 inches) long. Its cones are also longer and narrower, up to 5.5 centimeters (2.2 inches) long.
The seeds of the Mexican pinyon are very popular in Mexico. They are the main edible pine nut in that area. You can eat them raw, but many people think they taste even better when roasted.
See also
In Spanish: Pino mexicano para niños
