lodgepole pine Pinaceae Pinus contorta Douglas ex Louden symbol: PICO Leaf: Evergreen needles, 1 1/2 to 3 inches long in fascicles of two, twisted, fascicle sheath present; yellow-green to green. Flower: Species is monoecious; males are yellow, cylindrical and clustered at branch tips; females reddish purple at branch tips in the upper crown. Fruit: Woody cone, 1 to 2 inches long, often asymmetrical and becoming lumpy near the base, apophysis armed with a short spine; light brown to brown; may remain closed for several years. Twig: Orange-brown, turning darker with age, needles are persistent for several years; buds are narrowly ovoid, reddish brown and resinous. Bark: Thin, typically grayish brown but can be very dark with many small close scales. Form: Tall, slender trees with a narrow loose crown reaching up to 80 feet tall; some varieties which grow along the Pacific Coast are very short and scrubby. Looks like: jack pine - ponderosa pine - Bishop pine Additional Range Information: Pinus contorta is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. See states reporting lodgepole pine. More: Wood External Links: USDAFS Silvics of North America USDAFS Additional Silvics Landowner Factsheet USDA Plants Database © Copyright 2015, Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, all rights reserved. Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson