Southwestern white pine facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Southwestern white pine |
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Pinus
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strobiformis
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The southwestern white pine (also known as Pinus strobiformis, Mexican white pine, or Chihuahua white pine) is a type of white pine tree. It's a medium-sized tree that naturally grows in the southwestern United States and Mexico. You'll usually find it high up in the mountains, growing alongside other conifer trees.
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About the Southwestern White Pine
The southwestern white pine is part of the white pine family. It's a tall, thin tree that can grow up to 30 meters (about 98 feet) high and 1 meter (about 3 feet) wide.
Its bark is smooth and silver-gray when the tree is young. As it gets older, the bark becomes grooved and turns red-brown or dark gray-brown. The branches spread out and point upwards. The small twigs are thin and pale red-brown, turning smooth gray as they age. The buds are shaped like an oval, are red-brown, and feel sticky.
The leaves (which are called needles) grow in bundles of five, but sometimes you might see four. They are 4 to 9 centimeters (about 1.5 to 3.5 inches) long and are straight or slightly twisted. They are dark green to blue-green and stay on the tree for 3 to 5 years. The top side of the needles looks white because of tiny lines called stomatal lines. The bottom side doesn't have these lines.
Pine Cones and Seeds
The cones of the southwestern white pine are very big! They can be 16 to 50 centimeters (about 6 to 20 inches) long and 9 to 11 centimeters (about 3.5 to 4.3 inches) wide. The scales on the cones have a unique shape, often curving or looking like an "S."
The seeds inside the cones are large and have a very short "wing." This means they don't fly far on the wind. Instead, birds, especially the Mexican jay, help spread the seeds around.
This tree can handle dry weather well, but it grows best in cool, moist places. You might find it growing with other pines like Pinus hartwegii and Pinus rudis.
Where Southwestern White Pines Grow
You can find this tree naturally in the mountains of Arizona, southwest Colorado, New Mexico, and western Texas in the United States.
Most of these pines live in Mexico, in the Sierra Madre Occidental mountains. They grow from just south of the US–Mexico border down through the states of Chihuahua and Durango to Jalisco.
The southwestern white pine usually doesn't grow by itself. It often shares its home with other native conifer trees. These can include limber pine, ponderosa pine, blue spruce, aspen, white fir, Douglas fir, and Engelmann spruce.
How People Use This Tree
The southwestern white pine is a useful tree!
- It can be grown as a Christmas tree.
- It makes a good windbreak tree, helping to block strong winds.
- It's also a popular ornamental tree, meaning people plant it for its beauty in gardens and parks.
- In drier areas, it's often planted instead of the eastern white pine because it handles less water better.
While it can be used for making cabinets, it's not the best choice for general lumber.
Historically, Native American people in the present-day southwestern United States used the seeds of this pine as a food source.
See also
In Spanish: Pino blanco de Chihuahua para niños
