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Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Evergreen Trees (Conifers), Vegetation Around Las Vegas
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)

General: Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla) is a coniferous (cone-bearing) tree with round needles that radiate in all directions from the twigs. The cones are egg-shaped and 2- to 3-inches long. This species can be recognized by the single, round needle (other pines have bundles of needles). Occasionally, however, one might find a few split needles on a Singleleaf Pinyon Pine, giving the appearance of Two-needle Pinyon Pine.

In Nevada, Singleleaf Pinyon Pine is a common component of the montane vegetation in all mountain ranges the Upper Sonoran (Pinyon-Juniper Woodland) life zone. This is the only pinyon around Las Vegas. To the east in Zion and the Grand Canyon, the Two-needle Pinyon Pine is the common pinyon.

Family: Pine (Pinaceae).

Other Names: Pinus californiarum.

Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Note the single, undivided needles

Plant Form: Short, spreading tree with a rounded crown.

Height: To 35 feet.

Trunk: To 1.5 feet diameter.

Bark: Smooth when young, aging to dark brown, furrowed into scaly ridges.

Branches: Many long, twisting branches giving the tree a rounded appearance.

Needles: Bundles of 1 (rarely 2); 1 to 2-inches long; light green to gray-green, slightly curved towards branch, sharp pointed tip.

Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Ripe cone with "pine nuts"

Cones: Erect; 1 to 5 inches; oval; green, aging to light brown or reddish-brown. Scales thick, blunt.

Seeds: Two seeds per scale. Hard shell surrounds “pine nut.”

Habitat: Upper desert flats, bajadas, mountain sides, rocky ridges.

Elevation: 4,000 to 9,000 feet.

Distribution: Southeastern California to southeastern Idaho, extreme western Utah, south to northern Baja California.

Comments: This is the common pinyon pine in Nevada. This species might hybridize with Two-needle Pinyon Pine.

Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla) Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla) Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla) Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine trunk bark furrowed into scaly ridges
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine trunk bark furrowed into scaly ridges
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine needles usually single, round, curved
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine needles with a sharp pointed tip
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Single, usually undivided needle
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Single, undivided needle with papery fascicle
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine developing male (pollen) cones
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine developing male (pollen) cones
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine male (pollen) cones
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine male (pollen) cones
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Young female cone
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Young female cones
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Immature cone
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Young cone
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Female cone ready to open
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Female cone ready to open
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Ripe cone with "pine nuts"
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Ripe cone with "pine nuts"
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Ripe cone with "pine nuts"
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Ripe cone with "pine nuts"
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla) Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla) Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
"Pine nuts" in the shell; the seeds of Pinyon Pines
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
"Pine nuts" in the shell; the seeds of Pinyon Pines
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla) Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla) Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine sometimes show a few split needles
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine sometimes show a few split needles
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine sometimes show a few split needles
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla)
Singleleaf Pinyon Pine sometimes show a few split needles

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 220813

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