Pinus flexilis

Limber pine
Limber pine on Spruce Mountain, Nevada

Apparently Secure  (NatureServe)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Gymnospermae
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Family: Pinaceae
Genus: Pinus
Subgenus: P. subg. Strobus
Section: P. sect. Quinquefoliae
Subsection: P. subsect. Strobus
Species:
P. flexilis
Binomial name
Pinus flexilis
E.James, 1824
Natural range
Synonyms[3]
  • Apinus flexilis (E.James) Rydb. (1905)
  • Pinus cembra var. flexilis (E.James) F.Sanders (1874)
  • Pinus lambertiana var. brevifolia Hook. (1838)
  • Pinus novaemexicana P.Landry (1989)

Pinus flexilis, the limber pine, is a species of pine tree in the family Pinaceae that occurs in the mountains of the Western United States, Mexico, and Canada. It is also called Rocky Mountain white pine.

A limber pine in Eagle Cap Wilderness, Oregon, has been documented as over 2,000 years old, and another one was confirmed at 1,140 years old.[4][5] Another candidate for the oldest limber pine was identified in 2006 near the Alta Ski Area in Utah; called "Twister", the tree was confirmed to be at least 1,700 years old and thought to be even older.[6]

  1. ^ Schoettle, A.; Stritch, L. (2013). "Pinus flexilis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T42363A2975338. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42363A2975338.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
  2. ^ NatureServe (2024). "Pinus flexilis". Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  3. ^ "Pinus flexilis E.James". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 20 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Old Tree". Oregon Field Guide. 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-21.
  5. ^ Richard, Terry (September 24, 2012). "Ancient limber pine, likely Oregon's oldest living tree, draws twin brothers to Wallowas quest (photo essay, video)". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2015-02-18.
  6. ^ "Stay Flexible, Grow Old". BYU Magazine. Spring 2007. Retrieved 2015-02-18.