About Pinus balfouriana Balf.
Size
Pinus balfouriana Balf. is a tree that typically reaches 10–20 m (30–70 ft) tall, and can exceptionally grow up to 35 m (115 ft) tall. It has a trunk that can grow up to 2 m (7 ft) across.
Leaf Arrangement
Its leaves are needle-like, growing in bundles of five (or sometimes four in the southern Sierra), with a semi-persistent basal sheath.
Leaf Characteristics
The needles are 2–4 cm (1–1+1⁄2 in) long, deep glossy green on the outer face and white on the inner faces, and persist on the tree for 10–15 years.
Cone Features
The cones are 6–11 cm (2+1⁄2–4+1⁄2 in) long, starting dark purple and ripening to red-brown. They have soft, flexible scales, each with a 1-millimeter (1⁄16-inch) central prickle.
Habitat and Elevation
This species grows in subalpine forest, occurring at elevations of 1,950–2,750 m (6,400–9,020 ft) in the Klamath Mountains, and at 2,300–3,500 m (7,500–11,500 ft) in the Sierra Nevada.
Sierra Nevada Distribution
In the Sierra Nevada, Foxtail pines (Pinus balfouriana) are limited to the area around Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks.
Ecological Role
It is often a tree line species in both of its native ranges.
Population Structure
It has two disjunct populations.
Misidentified Population
A small outlying population that was reported in southern Oregon was later proven to be a misidentification.
