Re: Pinus sabiniana or...?

Thanks Joseph,

After looking at photos online of P. torreyana, I really think that
these mystery trees are P. torreyana. In fact, a number of the oldest
trees around campus look much like this:
http://www.cuyamaca.net/OH170/Plant_TNails/Pinus_torreyana_2-29-00.jpg
(although a little less green).

Very interesting considering how rare these trees are in the wild, but
they seem to be a lot like Monterey Cypress (Cupressus macrocarpa), if
they like a spot, they go wild. Might be interesting to see more of
these pines around than Monterey pines (which technically aren't
native to the area north of Monterey I live either).

On 6/11/11, Joseph Seals <thegardenguru@yahoo.com> wrote:
> I think the best possibility, without photos of the actual tree and its
> cone, is Pinus torreyana.
>
> 5-needled fascicles, leaves 9 inches long, gray-green.  There are several
> other California pines with 5 nedles but the needles don't come anywhere
> close to 9 inches long.
>
> More than that, Pinus torreyana has naturalized pretty much all along the
> California coast where it has been planted as an ornamental.
>
> Unbelievably adaptable and durable.
>
> Joe
>
> Joseph Seals
> Horticultural Consultant
> Arroyo Grande, California
> Cell: 805-823-5696
>
>
> From: B. Garcia <paroxytone@gmail.com>
> To: Medit-Plants Plants <Medit-plants@ucdavis.edu>
> Sent: Friday, June 10, 2011 7:40 PM
> Subject: Pinus sabiniana or...?
>
>
> I've noticed in the past couple of years a rather gray green pine with a
> filmy look and low branched structure showing up all around the campus of
> California State University Monterey Bay. These actually seem to be
> replacing the numerous dying Monterey pines (P. radiata), and are showing up
> in places like disturbed chaparral, in cracks within pavement (one tree is
> growing right out of asphalt and you can see where the roots have pushed the
> asphalt up). I suspect the local jays are spreading the trees. I know that
> P. sabiniana shows up in dryer, hotter parts of Monterey County, but I've
> never seen native groves coming close to the coast.
>
> Anyway, on close inspection, what makes me wonder that it might *not* be P.
> sabiniana is that the needle fascicles I've pulled from a few trees seem to
> all be five needled, where descriptions of P. sabiniana I've read says
> they're usually 3 needled, rarely 4 needled. I haven't read that 5 needles
> is common. I haven't got a photo of a tree in habit or closeups of the
> branches, but here's a not so great scan to give you an idea of the scale of
> the needles and the seed: pine needles, seed
>
> As I scanned it directly, the scale isn't exact, but the needles are almost
> 9 inches/23 cm long, and the seed is a little larger than 3/4 of an
> inch/2cm. Young cones seem to exude resin all over themselves. Without
> additional photos, what do those of you who may know think? P. sabiniana, or
> a similar but non native gray green pine? I'll attempt to get other photos
> tomorrow.
>
>
> - Barry
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