Form: This species only gets to be between 20 and 40 feet tall. It also has a scraggly form.

Needles:
             

Arrangement: 2 per fascicle

Length: 1-2" long

Shape: coarse, thick, & curved

Other: blue-green or yellow-green

 

Bark: The bark is scaly with small plates and is reddish brown to gray in color.

Cones: The cones are 2" long and brown with very thick scales. Each cone contains two large, edible pine nuts.

Distinguishing characteristics: The species has a low scraggly form, distinctive cone, needles in fascicle of two, and thick scaly bark.

Range: This species occurs in the southwestern U.S. and on the Colorado plateau to the eastern rim of the Great Basin.

Silvics: This tree occurs on dry, rocky or gravelly soils and is found in semi-arid regions.

Ecological and cultural importance: This species is browsed by livestock and various wildlife species. The seeds are eaten by birds, most notable is the clarks nutcracker.