- Arizona Pine
Taxobox
name = Arizona Pine
status = LR/lc | status_system = IUCN2.3
regnum =Plant ae
divisio =Pinophyta
classis = Pinopsida
ordo =Pinales
familia =Pinaceae
genus = "Pinus"
subgenus = "Pinus"
species = "P. arizonica"
binomial = "Pinus arizonica"
binomial_authority = Engelm.The Arizona Pine ("Pinus arizonica") is a medium-sized
pine in northernMexico , southeastArizona , southwestNew Mexico , and westernTexas in theUnited States . It is atree growing to 25-35 m tall, with a trunk diameter of up 1.2 m. The needles are in bundles of 3, 4, or 5, with 5-needle fascicles being the most prevalent. This variability may be a sign of hybridization with the closely relatedPonderosa Pine ("Pinus ponderosa"). The cones are single, paired, or in whorls of three, and 5-11 cm long.It has been thought to be a variant of Ponderosa Pine by some botanists in the past, but is now recognized as a distinct species by most authorities.
Two varieties are described, possibly better treated as distinct species; see
Ponderosa Pine for a table of characters:
*"Pinus arizonica" var. "arizonica", in theSierra Madre Occidental fromArizona south to Durango
*"Pinus arizonica" var "stormiae", in theSierra Madre Oriental from theBig Bend National Park inTexas south to San Luis Potosí.Another related pine,
Cooper's Pine ("Pinus cooperi") is also treated as a variety of Arizona Pine by some authors, as "Pinus arizonica" var. "cooperi", but other authors regard this as a distinct species, more closely related toHartweg's Pine ("Pinus hartwegii").This pine is a source of construction timber, and is heavily harvested for firewood. Extensive cutting has reduced the formerly widespread Arizona Pine forests, particularly in Mexico.
References
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