Bishop Pine

(Pinus muricata)

Color Photographs: © by and courtesy of Charles Webber, California Academy of Sciences

Bishop Pine (Pinus muricata)

Identifying Characters: The California coastal distribution of this species and the needle bundles of 2 should identify this species.

Similar Species: Within its coastal habitat Bishop Pine might be confused with Monterey Pine and Torrey Pine. Bishop Pine has needles in bundles of 2, but Monterey Pine has bundles of 3 and Torrey Pine bundles of 5 needles.

Measurements: Bishop Pine ranges between 40 and 80 feet in height and 2 to 3 feet in diameter at maturity.

Cones: The cones are 2 to 3.5 inches long and elongate-conical in shape; a stalk is absent and the base of the cone is oblique and asymmetric; cones cloustered in whorls about the branch; cone scales numerous, with a raised keel, and those on the outer side with a stout terminal spine point toward the base of the cone; cones are very persistent and are sometimes overgrown by the bark and wood of the growing tree.

Needles: Needles occur in bundles of 2 and the bundle sheath is not shed after the first year; needles 4 to 6 inches in length, thick and stiff, slightly flattened, dull green.

Bark: The bark is dark gray, very thick, and furrowed into scaly plates.

Native Range: Bishop Pine is found along the northern and central coasts of California. The species is also found in northern Baja California and on the islands of Santa Cruz and Santa Rosa.

Habitat: This pine species is found in the hills and plains along the coast of California in the fog belt. It occurs as isolated individuals with other pines or as small groups of trees.