Ponserosa Pine

Description:

An evergreen, open-branched tree forming an open pyramid when young, becoming a short-conical head in age. It is native to western North America, adapted to well drained soils in Arizona and New Mexico. It occurs as dominant trees in mixed coniferous forests or as open pure stands. It is moderately slow-growing, especially in early years, but is very long-lived. It has a root system with deep taproot, therefore is windfirm. The Ponderosa Pine life zone occurs between 7,000 and 9,000 feet in New Mexico. Tall ponderosa pine trees with open, park-like forest floors characterize this life zone. Many of the plants in this life zone, inlcuding the ponderosa pine have adaptations for surviving forest fires. Low-temperature ground fires used to be an important component of this forest ecosystem.

Habitat:

El Malpais National Monument is a United States National Monument that is located south of I-40 in northwestern New Mexico. The name (meaning "the badlands" in Spanish) comes from the rough, barren lava flow that makes up much of its terrain. El Malpais National Monument and Conservation Area was established in 1987. The national monument protects 114,277 acres of volanic landscape, while the adjacent national conservation area protects an additional 263,000 acres. The area has been inhabited for over 10,000 years, and historic and archeological sites provide reminders of past times. To this day Indian groups including the Acoma, Laguna, Zuni, and the Ramah Navajo still utilize the park for traditional activities including gathering herbs and medicines, paying respect, and renewing ties.

Notes:

Also know as the Blackjack or Western Yellow Pine, this evergreen was first reported by members of the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1804. Twenty-two years later it was named by the famous Scottish Botanist, David Douglas, for its heavy or "ponderous" wood. The Ponderosa was mistaken for two different trees due to the differences between the younger and older of its kind. For the first 80-100 years, the bark of the Ponderosa is smooth and a dark brown-black, leading to the name Blackjack Pine. Later, the bark of the older tree is an orange-brown color with deep ridges. Its growth area is often known as the "Great Timber" region because of its tall majestic stance. It is the most common pine in North America and is widely distributed. This distribution leads to different varieties or subspecies of the Ponderosa.