Qiaojia pine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Qiaojia pinePinus squamata |
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The Pinus squamata, also known as the Qiaojia pine or southern lacebark pine, is a very rare type of pine tree. It is considered a critically endangered species, which means it is at a very high risk of disappearing forever.
This special pine tree grows only in one small area in Qiaojia County, which is in northeast Yunnan, China. There are only about 20 of these trees left in the world! They grow at a high elevation, around 2,200 meters (about 7,200 feet) above sea level.
The Qiaojia pine was first found in April 1991 by Pangzhao J.Q. Scientists studied it later that year, and it was officially described as a new species in 1992 by Li Xiang-Wang. It shares some features with other pinyon pine trees.
What the Qiaojia Pine Looks Like
We don't know how tall a fully grown Qiaojia pine can get. This is because none of the trees alive today are fully mature. However, scientists think they might grow to be 30 meters (about 100 feet) tall or even taller! These trees grow in open areas with other plants like Yunnan pine.
The Qiaojia pine has a cone-shaped top, called a conic crown. Its bark starts out as a pale gray-green color and looks flaky. As the tree gets older, the bark turns dark brown. This is similar to its close relative, the lacebark pine.
The new branches, called shoots, are reddish to greenish brown. They might be smooth or have tiny hairs. The leaves of the Qiaojia pine hang down. They grow in groups of 4 or 5. Each leaf is about 9 to 17 centimeters (3.5 to 6.7 inches) long and about 0.8 millimeters (0.03 inches) wide. The top of the leaves is shiny green, and the underside has white lines called stomatal bands. These bands are where the tree "breathes."
The tree's cones are shaped like a cone or an egg. They are reddish-brown and about 9 centimeters (3.5 inches) long and 6 centimeters (2.4 inches) wide when they open. The cones open in September or October of their second year. When they open, they release black, oblong seeds. These seeds are about 4 to 5 millimeters (0.16 to 0.2 inches) long and have a wing about 16 millimeters (0.6 inches) long, which helps them fly away in the wind.
Why This Pine Is So Rare
The Qiaojia pine is the rarest pine tree in the world! The next rarest is the Torrey pine, Pinus torreyana. The Qiaojia pine lives in a very small area, basically just one spot. It seems like it has always been a naturally rare tree. There's no sign that its population has shrunk a lot in the past, and it doesn't seem to be getting smaller right now.
However, because there are so few of these trees—only about 18 to 20 mature ones—it is listed as Critically Endangered. This means it needs special protection to make sure it doesn't disappear.
See also
In Spanish: Pino Qiaojia para niños
