British Columbia Outdoor Wilderness Guide               |   
    
			
 
                   
                     
                       
                         
                           
                             
                               
                                
                                   
                                       
                                     
                                   
                                    WHITEBARK 
                                    PINE 
                                    pinus albicaulis  
                                 
                                
                                  - The 
                                    Whitebark Pine is also known as Scrub Pine 
                                     
                                  
 - The 
                                    name 'albicaulis' means the "pine with white 
                                    stems" because of the white bark evident in 
                                    young trees  
                                  
 - The 
                                    Whitebark Pine can be in the shape of a small 
                                    tree with a rapidly spreading trunk and broad 
                                    crown or in the shape of a shrub with wide-spreading 
                                    crown and twisted, gnarled branches  
                                
  
                                 
                                 UNIQUE 
                                  FEATURES:  
                                 
                                  - The 
                                    Whitebark Pine is distinguishable from Limber 
                                    Pine by the cones  
                                  
 - The 
                                    hollows around the roots are used as shelters 
                                    by animals and hikers  
                                  
 - The 
                                    seeds of the Whitebark Pine are also food 
                                    for bears and other animals  
                                
  
                                 LOCATION: 
                                   
                                 
                                  - The 
                                    Whitebark Pine is found at high elevations 
                                    in southern British Columbia  
                                  
 - Whitebark 
                                    Pine likes dry to moderately moist sites  
                                
  
                                 SIZE: 
                                   
                                 
                                  - The 
                                    Whitebark Pine grows to either the size of 
                                    a small tree or a shrub  
                                
  
                                 CONES/FRUIT: 
                                   
                                 
                                  - egg-shaped 
                                    to round  
                                  
 - 3 
                                    to 8 cm in length  
                                  
 - grow 
                                    at right angles to the branches  
                                  
 - remain 
                                    closed on the tree and seeds are only released 
                                    when the cone decays on the ground  
                                  
 - seeds 
                                    are wingless and about 1 cm long  
                                
  
                                   
                                   
                                   
                                  NEEDLES:  
                                 
                                  - in 
                                    bunches of 5  
                                  
 - 3 
                                    to 9 cm long  
                                  
 - slightly 
                                    curved, stiff, bluish-green  
                                
  
                                 BARK: 
                                   
                                 
                                  - young 
                                    trees: thin, smooth and chalky white  
                                  
 - mature 
                                    trees: thick darker bark with ridges  
                                
  
                                 USES: 
                                   
                                 
                                  - traditional 
                                    - seeds: food (pinenuts); roots: to sew bark 
                                    canoes, weave watertight containers
                                
  
                               
                               
                           
                         
                       
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