(Pinus edulis)
Family:
Pinaceae
Description
Small, bushy, resinous tree with short trunk and compact, rounded, spreading crown. Height is 15–35 ft. (4.6–10.7 m). Diameter is 1–2 ft. (0.3–0.6 m) or more. Needles are two in a bundle, 0.75–1.5 in. (2–4 cm) long, stout and light green. Bark is gray to reddish-brown, rough, furrowed into scaly ridges. Cones are 1.5–2 in. (4–5 cm) long, egg-shaped and yellow-brown. Seeds inside cone are large, wingless, slightly thick walled, oily and edible.
Habitat
Open, orchardlike woodlands, alone or with junipers. Mostly on dry, rocky foothills, mesas, plateaus and lower mountain slopes. Native to New Mexico.
Discussion
The edible seeds (pinyon nuts) are a wild, commercial nut crop. Pinyon ranks first among the native nut trees of the U.S. that are not also cultivated. However, most of the seeds are promptly devoured by pinyon jays, wild turkeys, woodrats, bears, deer and other wildlife. Small pinions are popular Christmas trees.