Chihuahua pine Pinaceae Pinus leiophylla Schiede & Deppe 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 Additional Range Information: Pinus leiophylla is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. See states reporting Chihuahua pine. External Links: USDAFS Additional Silvics USDA Plants Database © Copyright 2016, 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