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Pacific Ponderosa Pine

The Pinus Ponderosa Var. Ponderosa is commonly known as Bull Pine, Pacific Ponderosa Pine, Ponderosa Pine, as well as Western Yellowpine

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Growing Regions

Pacific ponderosa pine ranges from latitude 52 degrees N in the Fraser River Drainage of southern British Columbia south through the mountains of Washington, Oregon, and California to latitude 33 degrees N near San Diego.  In the northeastern part of its range it extends east of the Continential Divide to longitude 110 degrees W in Montana and south to the Snake River Plain in Idaho [48].

     

General Information

The currently accepted scientific name of Pacific ponderosa pine is Pinus ponderosa var. ponderosa Dougl. [28]. Three varieties of ponderosa pine are currently recognized and are distinguished by morphological variations and geographical location [7,48]: var. arizonica (Engelm.) Shaw - Arizona pine. (classified as a separate species, P. arizonica Engelm.), by some authorities). Occurs in the mountains of extreme southwest New Mexico, southeast Arizona, and northern Mexico. Has shorter cones and narrower cone scale prickles. Usually has five-needle fascicles. var. ponderosa - Pacific ponderosa pine. Extends from the mountains of southern California northward along the Sierra Nevada-Cascade Range to southern British Columbia. Usually has three-needle fascicles. var. scopulorum (Engelm.) - Interior ponderosa pine. Extends from west-central Montana, southward through the mountains, plains, and basins of Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. Has a moderate to high proportion of two-needle fascicles.

Pacific ponderosa pine forms climax stands that border grasslands and is
also a common seral tree on many other forested sites [63].  Being
drought tolerant, it is usually occupies the transition zone between
grassland and forest.  Climax stands are characteristically warm and
dry, and occupy lower elevations throughout their range.  Key understory
associates in climax stands typically include grasses such as bluebunch
wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata) and Idaho fescue (Festuca
idahoensis), and shrubs such as bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata) and
common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus).  At higher elevations, Pacific
ponderosa pine is seral to trees that are more shade tolerant and
moisture demanding.  In the Pacific Northwest this generally includes
Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), grand fir (Abies grandis), and
white fir (A. concolor) [8,18,49,63].

Publications listing Pacific ponderosa pine as an indicator or dominant
species in habitat types (hts), community types (cts), and plant
associations (pas) are as follows:

 Area            Classification                  Authority
 ----            --------------           -------------------------
  CA              forest (pas)             Atzet & Wheeler 1984
  CA              forest (cts)             Erhard  1979
  CA              forest (hts)             Horton  1960
  ID              forest (pas)             Schlatterer 1972
  ID              forest (cts)             Tuhy & Jensen 1982
c ID              forest (hts)             Steele & others 1981
n ID              forest (hts)             Cooper & others 1991
  MT              forest (hts)             Pfister & others 1977
  OR              forest (pas)             Kovalchik 1987
  OR              forest (pas)             Hopkins 1979b
  OR              forest (pas)             Hopkins & Kovalchik 1983
  OR              forest (pas)             Johnson & Simon 1987
c OR              forest (pas)             Volland 1985
e OR  se WA       forest (cts)             Hall 1973
  WA              forest (pas)             Williams & Lillybridge 1983
e WA  n ID        forest (hts)             Daubenmire & Daubenmire 1968

Much of the information presented here is attributed to:
Habeck, R. J. 1992. Pinus ponderosa var. ponderosa. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available at USDA Forest Service.

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