Virginia Tech Dendrology

Chihuahua pine Pinaceae Pinus leiophylla Schiede & Deppe Listen to the Latin symbol: PILE
Leaf: Evergreen needles, 2 1/2 to 4 1/2 inches long, in fascicles of 3, stout, fascicle sheath sheds in first year, blue-green with white stomatal bands.
Flower: Species is monoecious; males purple than turning yellow, in clusters at branch tips; females red, at branch tips, appearing in spring.
Fruit: Woody cone, 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches long and nearly as wide, dark reddish to gray-brown with a long stalk, slight prickle on scale, requires 3 years to mature and persist on the tree for many years.
Twig: Moderately stout, reddish brown, narrow pointed buds.
Bark: Very dark (nearly black), thick, coarse ridges, lighter reddish brown, deep vertical fissures.
Form: A small tree reaching up to 50 feet tall and 2 feet in diameter, open crown with upturned branches.
 Looks like: ponderosa pine - Apache pine - pitch pine
leaf fruit twig bark form1 map
Additional Range Information: Pinus leiophylla is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting.
External Links: USDAFS FEIS Silvics - USDA Plants Database
All material © 2018 Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation; Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson; Silvics reprinted from Ag Handbook 654; range maps courtesy USGS from USDA "Atlas of United States Trees" by Elbert L. Little, Jr., Vol. 1 (1971) 3 (1976) 4 (1977) 5 (1978)