A closeup of a a ponderosa pine branch featuring the needles and a few cones.
NPS/Eric Grunwald
The ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), also known as yellow pine, is one of the most widely distributed trees in the western United States. Named for its "ponderous" or heavy wood, ponderosa pines can be found in 16 different western states. Commonly thought of as a "mountain tree" species, ponderosa pines can also be found in the western Great Plains on sites that are relatively dry and nutrient-poor. They are characterized by needles in clusters of two or three that are five to ten inches long. Their bark is brown to black in color, but with age turns yellowish brown to cinnamon with scaly plates seperated by deep, irregular furrows. Ponderosa pine bears cones that are three to six inches long and two inches wide with sharp points on the ends of the scales. While ponderosa pines can grow to heights of 130 feet tall, on the plains they tend to grow much shorter. They typically have a wide and open cylindrical crown. Their mature root system is wide-spreading (up to 150 feet) with a deep taproot. This allows the ponderosa pine to grow in drier parts of the west.
Poderosa pine is an important tree species for wildlife. Its's seeds are consumed by many species of birds including wild turkeys, nuthatches, crossbills, grosbeaks and grouse. They are also eaten by squirrels, chipmunks and mice. In the past, Native Americans have used the inner bark and seeds of the ponderosa pine as a food source. It was also utilized by native peoples for medicine, dye, fiber and firewood.
