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Pinus flexilis

Limber Pine
Pinus flexilis

Family: Pine (Pinaceae)
AKA: Rocky Mountain White Pine, Limbertwig
Photo taken on: August 4, 2021
Location: Spring Creek Rd, GV, CO
Life Zones: Montane to subalpine
Habitat: Rocky slopes, aspen/conifer forests

Grows to 65 feet, often with branches near the base of the trunk. Trunks can be 6 feet across and contorted. It becomes shrubby at timberline. It is a slow-growing and long-lived species that may take hundreds of years to reach maturity, attaining a lifespan of more than 1,000 years. Bark is gray and nearly smooth, with age it develops longitudinal reddish-brown plates with intervening cracks. Twigs are smooth and flexible. Dark bluish-green needles are up to 2¾" long growing in bunches of five and curving upwards.  arrow

Flora of North America reference.

Pinus flexilis
Pinus flexilis

A tree produces both male and female cones. Male cones are pale red or yellow about ½" long. Female cones are cylindrical, 3 to 6 inches long without spines.

Pinus flexilis

Trees