Pinyon Pines (Pinus edulis) along South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park 7941 - Flickr - Grand Canyon NPS

Description:

Description: Pinyon pines (Pinus edulis) have crooked trunks, reddish bark and are very slow growing. Most tend to be short and scrubby, but under the right conditions, they may reach a height of 35 feet (10 m). Trees 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) in diameter may be 80 to 100 years old. Their root systems are extensive and often mirror the size of the above ground tree. Needle‐like leaves occur in pairs and are 1 inch long. Pinyons produce compact cones that contain tasty, protein-rich seeds called pinenuts. Pinenuts were a major source of food for Native Americans and are still popular today. Animals like the bushy-tailed woodrat, the pinyon mouse and the pinyon jay also prize them. The genus name, “Pinus”, is Latin for "pine" and the species name, “edulis”, means “edible” referring to the highly nutritive seeds. In the park you will often see pinyons growing alongside juniper trees. Date: 3 January 2014, 15:56. Source: Pinyon Pines (Pinus edulis) along South Rim of Grand Canyon National Park 7941. Author: Grand Canyon National Park.