Idaho White Pine

The Pinus Monticola is commonly known as Idaho White Pine, Mountain White Pine, Silver Pine, as well as Western White Pine

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Growing Regions

Western white pine occurs in the Pacific Northwest. The northern boundary of its range is at Quesnel Lake, British Columbia, latitude 52 deg. 30 min. N., and the southern boundary is at Tulare County, California, latitude 35 deg. 51 min. N. The western boundary is marked by the Pacific Coast, and the eastern boundary is at Glacier National Park, Montana. Western white pine reaches its greatest size and best stand and commercial development in northern Idaho and adjacent parts of Montana, Washington, and British Columbia [11].

     

General Information

The currently accepted scientific name of western white pine is Pinus monticola Dougl. ex D. Don (Pinaceae) [11,38]. There are two recognized varieties: P. m. var. minima Lemmon and P. m. var monticola [38]. There are no subspecies or forms. Western white pine hybridizes with Balkan pine (P. peuce), blue pine (P. griffithii), eastern white pine (P. strobus), southwestern white pine (P. strobiformis), and limber pine (P. flexilis) [11].

Western white pine is a seral species that is present in a number of
habitat types, associations, and communities throughout its range.  In
northern Idaho and eastern Washington, it may dominate early
successional stages of the western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla)/queencup
beadlily (Clintonia uniflora) and western redcedar (Thuga
plicata)/queencup beadlily habitat types [71].  It is also a major seral
species in the western hemlock/queencup beadlily habitat type in western
Monatana and is a major constituent of the western hemlock zone in the
Puget Sound area of Washington [11].  A western white pine riparian
dominance type has been described for northwestern Montana [14].
Associated species are those associated with the Aralia phase of the
subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa)/queencup beadlily habitat type [14].
Western white pine is moderately abundant, usually growing in small
groups and often interspersed with other species, in the subalpine
forest zone on the west slope of the Sierra Nevada [50].

• More Idaho White Pine Information

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