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Scientific name: Pinus aristata Engelmann 1862
Synonyms: Pinus balfouriana var. aristata (Engelm.) Engelm., Pinus balfouriana subsp. aristata (Engelm.) Engelm.
Common names: Rocky Mountain bristlecone pine, Colorado bristlecone pine, Hickory pine
Tree to 20(-25) m tall, with trunk to 1.2 m in diameter. Bark grayish brown to gray, becoming shallowly fissured between irregular, flat-topped, vertical ridges. Crown cylindrical or rounded, with numerous, stiffly upraised branches densely clothed with foliage. Twigs light reddish brown and minutely hairy initially, becoming gray and bald with age. Buds about 10 mm long, resinous. Needles in bundles of five, each needle (2-)3-4 cm long, stiff, lasting 10-15(-20) years, dark bluish green, speckled with dried resin drops. Individual needles with lines of stomates only on the inner faces, an undivided midvein, a single small resin canal just beneath a central groove running down the outer face, and none to three shorter resin canals nearby. Sheath (5-)10-15 mm long, curling back and soon shed. Pollen cones about 10 mm long, bright yellow. Seed cones 6-11 cm long, egg-shaped and flat at the base, with 100 scales or more, purple before maturity, ripening tan to grayish brown, opening widely to release the seeds and then falling, unstalked or very short stalked. Seed scales paddle-shaped, thin but thicker at the exposed tip, with a diamond-shaped umbo on the exposed face bearing a prickle (arista in Latin, hence the scientific and common names) 4-10 mm long. Seed body 5-6 mm long, the easily detachable wing 7-15 mm long.
Rocky Mountains of central Colorado to northern New Mexico and the San Francisco Peaks of Arizona. Forming pure stands or mixed with other subalpine and upper montane conifers; 2,700-3,700 m.
Red List Category & Criteria: Least Concern
Pinus longaeva's area of occupancy, estimated at 816 km² based on 55 localities with 4 km width distributed across the known extent of occurrence, is certainly much less than 2,000 km², the threshold for Vulnerable. However, there is no evidence of past or continuous decline that would amount to anywhere near 30% even if some subpopulations are known to have died out. Its existence at the limits of tree growth in the high Rocky Mountains could make it vulnerable to climate change. Due to its nature of being an extremely long-lived species it is difficult to assess population trends, even from a qualitative perspective. The pathogen White Pine Blister Rust (WPBR) (Cronartium ribicola) could also spread further and impact this species. It would be appropriate to revisit Pinus aristata in ten years to see if WPBR has colonized stands of Pinus aristata.
Rocky Mountain bristlecone pine grows in association with Limber pine (Pinus flexilis), Piñon or Two-needle pine (Pinus edulis), Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii), Subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), and Quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides). It occurs in arid environments. It is a component of two climax vegetation types Bristlecone pine dominant with or without Engelmann spruce and an understory of Festuca spp, with open and park-like conditions, and transition to shade tolerant with Engelmann spruce dominating moisture sites. On lower elevation sites Bristlecone pine is dominant or co-dominant with Douglas-fir.
Very narrow endemic. Oldest specimen on Black Mountain in Colorado at 2,456 years of age (2012). Potential threats include the exotic pathogen, White Pine Blister Rust (Cronartium ribicola), altered fire regimes, climate change and bark beetles (Dendroctonus ponderosae). Of these, White Pine Blister Rust has been recorded from one subpopulation - its spread is being closely monitored. The effects of these potential threats could be compounded by low genetic diversity, moderate population isolation, and a protracted regeneration dynamic.
A significant proportion of the population are within protected areas. Other conservation actions include gene conservation through an active cone collection effort supported by artificial inoculations with blister rust to determine rust resistant seed sources for restoration. Actions needed include in situ gene conservation of highly, genetically diverse locations, ex situ pollen collection for gene conservation.
This species is found on andesite lava flows, interbedded with andesitic breccia and ash-flow tuff, granite bedrock, thin gravelly soil and granite boulder tallus. It naturally regenerates following fire, facilitating the establishment of Engelmann spruce. The winged seed is wind-dispersed and cached by squirrels and other rodents.
Pinus aristata ’# 142’ Pinus aristata ’Amerika Sdl’ Pinus aristata ’Baldwin Dwarf’ Pinus aristata ’Bandito’ Pinus aristata ’Bashful #75’ Pinus aristata ’Beaverdam’ Pinus aristata ’Beetle’ Pinus aristata ’Best Bet’ Pinus aristata ’Betsy B.’ Pinus aristata ’Between #73’ Pinus aristata ’Betwixt’ Pinus aristata ’Big Scamp’ Pinus aristata ’Bill’ Pinus aristata ’Bingo’ Pinus aristata ’Blue Bear’ Pinus aristata ’Blue Heron’ Pinus aristata ’Bright Ray’ Pinus aristata ’Buckskin’ Pinus aristata ’Buffalo’ Pinus aristata ’Bunny Paws’ Pinus aristata ’C # 164’ Pinus aristata ’Cassie’ Pinus aristata ’Cecilia’ Pinus aristata ’Cheery’ Pinus aristata ’Chief’ Pinus aristata ’Chip C.’ Pinus aristata ’Chubby Chip’ Pinus aristata ’Clank’ Pinus aristata ’Como’ Pinus aristata ’Como II’ Pinus aristata ’Compacta’ Pinus aristata ’Cookie’ Pinus aristata ’Crafty’ Pinus aristata ’Crazy Frog’ Pinus aristata ’Curley’ Pinus aristata ’D # 165’ Pinus aristata ’D. Lorraine’ Pinus aristata ’Dancing „D”’ Pinus aristata ’Democrat’ Pinus aristata ’Denny’ Pinus aristata ’Dexi’ Pinus aristata ’Ding Bat’ Pinus aristata ’Ding Dong’ Pinus aristata ’Doc #76’ Pinus aristata ’Dokey’ Pinus aristata ’Dollar’ Pinus aristata ’Donna Kay’ Pinus aristata ’Dopey #88’ Pinus aristata ’Dwarf Tree’ Pinus aristata ’Dwarf Tree Upper’ Pinus aristata ’E # 166’ Pinus aristata ’Eager’ Pinus aristata ’Eagles Eyrie’ Pinus aristata ’Echo’ Pinus aristata ’Elko Run’ Pinus aristata ’Empire’ Pinus aristata ’Engelmanni’ Pinus aristata ’F # 167’ Pinus aristata ’Fairplay’ Pinus aristata ’Fast’ Pinus aristata ’Fatso’ Pinus aristata ’Feelmyage’ Pinus aristata ’Formal Form’ Pinus aristata ’Foxy’ Pinus aristata ’Geneva’ Pinus aristata ’Go Fot It’ Pinus aristata ’Goliath’ Pinus aristata ’Grand Pass’ Pinus aristata ’Great Guy’ Pinus aristata ’Grumpy #15’ Pinus aristata ’Grüne Kugel’ Pinus aristata ’Haley’ Pinus aristata ’Hank S.’ Pinus aristata ’Happy’ Pinus aristata ’Hevi Kevi’ Pinus aristata ’Hexenbesen’ Pinus aristata ’Hi Point’ Pinus aristata ’Hip Pocket’ Pinus aristata ’Hoosier’ Pinus aristata ’Itsy Bitsy’ Pinus aristata ’Jackpot’ Pinus aristata ’Jackson’s Prostrate’ Pinus aristata ’Jeddeloh Zwerg’ Pinus aristata ’Jeff’ Pinus aristata ’Jerry Morris’ Pinus aristata ’Jo Ann’ Pinus aristata ’Joe’s Bess’ Pinus aristata ’Jordi’ Pinus aristata ’Kari Ann’ Pinus aristata ’Karma’ Pinus aristata ’Kathy Ann’ Pinus aristata ’Kavina’ Pinus aristata ’KDC’ Pinus aristata ’Kelly Ann’ Pinus aristata ’Kelly Girl’ Pinus aristata ’Kershaw’ Pinus aristata ’Ketterers Weeping’ Pinus aristata ’Kite’ Pinus aristata ’Kohout’s Drahthaar’ Pinus aristata ’Kohout’s Gem’ Pinus aristata ’Kohout’s Hexe’ Pinus aristata ’Kristin’ Pinus aristata ’Kyle’s Best’ Pinus aristata ’Lemon Frost’ Pinus aristata ’Levi Alone’ Pinus aristata ’Lil Rocky’ Pinus aristata ’Lincoln’ Pinus aristata ’Little B.’ Pinus aristata ’Little Doll’ Pinus aristata ’Little Mound’ Pinus aristata ’Little Rocky’ Pinus aristata ’Little Scamp #54’ Pinus aristata ’Low Boy’ Pinus aristata ’Lower Dwarf Tree’ Pinus aristata ’Lucky Nugget’ Pinus aristata ’Magpie’ Pinus aristata ’Margaret Mason’s RG’ Pinus aristata ’Mighty Mite #57’ Pinus aristata ’Mikee’ Pinus aristata ’Minijehlan’ Pinus aristata ’Miss B.’ Pinus aristata ’Moose Creek’ Pinus aristata ’Mosey’ Pinus aristata ’Mosquito’ Pinus aristata ’Mr. Right’ Pinus aristata ’Mt. Bross’ Pinus aristata ’Mt. Evans South Group’ Pinus aristata ’MVM’ Pinus aristata ’Nana’ Pinus aristata ’Nancy Kaye’ Pinus aristata ’New Broom’ Pinus aristata ’Oops’ Pinus aristata ’Ossorio Variegated’ Pinus aristata ’P. Wee’ Pinus aristata ’Packer’ Pinus aristata ’Paiute’ Pinus aristata ’Paris Roquefort’ Pinus aristata ’Pay Dirt’ Pinus aristata ’Play Boy’ Pinus aristata ’Pluto’ Pinus aristata ’Putnam’ Pinus aristata ’Red Bird’ Pinus aristata ’Red Hill BC’ Pinus aristata ’Red Hill Mini’ Pinus aristata ’Red Horse’ Pinus aristata ’Red Ridge’ Pinus aristata ’Rezek’s Doll’ Pinus aristata ’Rich’ Pinus aristata ’Rich Broom’ Pinus aristata ’Ryki’ Pinus aristata ’San José’ Pinus aristata ’Samantha’ Pinus aristata ’Sara E.’ Pinus aristata ’Saundra M. Broom’ Pinus aristata ’Saundra M. M.’ Pinus aristata ’Sawmill’ Pinus aristata ’Schneverdingen’ Pinus aristata ’Selection’ Pinus aristata ’Selektion’ Pinus aristata ’Semenac’ Pinus aristata ’Sharon’s Star’ Pinus aristata ’Short Change’ Pinus aristata ’Sherwood Compact’ Pinus aristata ’Sidekick’ Pinus aristata ’Silver Alibi’ Pinus aristata ’Silver Bee’ Pinus aristata ’Silver Bet’ Pinus aristata ’Silver Bird’ Pinus aristata ’Silver Boy’ Pinus aristata ’Silver Bug’ Pinus aristata ’Silver Bun’ Pinus aristata ’Silver Dad’ Pinus aristata ’Silver Day’ Pinus aristata ’Silver Dog’ Pinus aristata ’Silver Doll’ Pinus aristata ’Silver Dust’ Pinus aristata ’Silverheels’ Pinus aristata ’Silver Heels’ Pinus aristata ’Silver Joy’ Pinus aristata ’Silver Love’ Pinus aristata ’Silver Shaker’ Pinus aristata ’Silver Wonder’ Pinus aristata ’Sleepy’ Pinus aristata ’Slowpoke’ Pinus aristata ’Sneezy’ Pinus aristata ’So Tight’ Pinus aristata ’Sonny Boy’ Pinus aristata ’Special Ann’ Pinus aristata ’Spooky’ Pinus aristata ’Stanwood’ Pinus aristata ’Starne’s Littleleaf’ Pinus aristata ’Stata’ Pinus aristata ’Szálka’ Pinus aristata ’Tallman’ Pinus aristata ’Tansi’ Pinus aristata ’The Sage’ Pinus aristata ’Tickle’ Pinus aristata ’Tiny Fox’ Pinus aristata ’Tippy’ Pinus aristata ’Tlatla’ Pinus aristata ’Top Draw’ Pinus aristata ’Topsy 83’ Pinus aristata ’Tow Out’ Pinus aristata ’Tripper’ Pinus aristata ’Unnamed’ Pinus aristata ’Upper Dwarf Tree’ Pinus aristata ’Vanc’ Pinus aristata ’Vanc Gold’ Pinus aristata ’Varden’ Pinus aristata ’Vsejany’ Pinus aristata ’Waldorf’ Pinus aristata ’Weston’ Pinus aristata ’Wildwood #143’ Pinus aristata ’Windy’ Pinus aristata ’Windy 1’ Pinus aristata ’Windy 2’
Copyright © Aljos Farjon, James E. Eckenwalder, IUCN, Conifers Garden. All rights reserved.
