Chihuahua Pine

(Pinus leiophylla)

Color Photographs: © by and courtesy of Stephen J. Baskouf

Chihuahua Pine (Pinus leiophylla)

Identifying Characters: The deciduous needle bundle sheaths, the long-stalked cones, and the needle bundles in groups of 3 should identify this species.

Similar Species: See above.

Measurements: Mature trees mostly between 40 and 50 feet height (although ranging between 30 and 80 feet) and 3 to 6 feet in diameter.

Cones: Cones 1.5 to 2.5 inches long, egg shaped, light brown, and borne on a long stalk; cone scales flattened at the apex with a small spine.

Needles: Needles in bundles of 3, thick, stiff, blue-green, with white lines on all surfaces; bundle sheath shed after the first year

Bark: Bark dark brown to nearly black, 2 to 3 inches thick and furrowed into broad scaly ridges.

Native Range: Southeastern Arizona below the Mogollon Rim and southeastern New Mexico. Also found throughout the moutainous regions of north and central Mexico.

Habitat: A montane species found on rocky ridges and slopes from 5000 to 7800 feet. Commonly found with Arizona Ponderosa Pine and Apache Pine.

NOTES: Although classified as a hard pine, the sheaths of the needle bundles are shed after the first year as in the soft pines.