Ponderosa Pine Revisited

Abstract

We here recognize a new variety, Pinus ponderosa var. pacifica, in the Pacific portion of the species' distribution and present a new combination for Washoe pine as a variety, Pinus ponderosa var. washoensis. In this treatment, we reject the neotype of Pinus ponderosa selected by Lauria and designate instead the branch collected by David Douglas with mistletoe (Arceuthobium campylopodum) as lectotype for Pinus ponderosa. Table 1 compares the distinguishing characters of the North Plateau (typical) variety, the Pacific variety, and the Washoe variety of Pinus ponderosa with a closely related species, Pinus jeffreyi. Figure 1 illustrates the cones of the three varieties of Pinus ponderosa discussed here and the cone of Pinus jeffreyi.