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Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Evergreen Trees (Conifers), Vegetation Around Las Vegas
Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Limber Pines on a ridge at 10,000 feet

General: Limber Pines (Pinus flexilis) are coniferous (cone-bearing) trees with medium-length, roundish, light green needles that form tufts at the end of the branches. Needles set in bundles of 5, and the bundles radiate in all directions from the twigs. The bark is light colored (white to gray). The cones are cylindrical, to 8-inches long, and the cone scales have thick tips. The cones naturally fall from the trees.

In Nevada, Limber Pine is an uncommon component of the montane vegetation in the Spring and Sheep mountains in the Transition (Yellow Pine Forests), Canadian (Pine-Fir Forest), and Hudsonian (Bristlecone Forest) life zones. This species is more common north of the Las Vegas region.

Family: Pine (Pinaceae).

Other Names:

Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)

Plant Form: Tall straight tree with pointed crown in sheltered areas; short, twisted, and gnarled in more exposed locations.

Height: To 50 feet tall.

Trunk: To 3 feet diameter.

Bark: Young tree: smooth, whitish gray; mature tree: dark brown to black, split by deep furrows and forming rectangular scales.

Branches: Fairly thick out to the tips, but limber. The branches are mainly angled upward.

Needles: Bundles of 5; dark green; 1 to 3-1/2 inches long with silvery white lines on all surfaces; in tufts at end of the branches.

Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)

Cones: Light brown; oblong; without prickles; rounded scales with thick tips, 3- to 8-inches long.

Seeds:

Habitat: Mountain forests, rocky ridges.

Elevation: 7,000 to 12,000 feet.

Distribution: California to western Canada, South Dakota, and New Mexico.

Comments: This species can most easily be seen along the Harris Saddle Trail near Harris Saddle and along the first mile or so of the North Loop Trail.

Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Limber Pine and Bristlecone Pine
Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Limber Pine (center) and other conifers
Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis) Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Some of the "Old Bristlecones" on Mt. Charleston are Limber Pines
Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Limber Pine young bark is white
Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Limber Pine young bark is white
Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Limber Pine young bark is white
Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Older bark becomes split by furrows
Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Older bark becomes gray, split by furrows forming rectangular plates
Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Limber Pine branches
Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Limber Pine needles radiate round the branches
Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Limber Pine needles radiate round the branches
Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Limber Pine needles occur in bundles of five
Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Limber Pine needles occur in bundles of five
Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Limber Pine needles occur in bundles of five held by papery fascicle
Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Cones on the ends of flexible branches
Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Cones on the tree
Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Limber Pine cones are held at branch tips
Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Limber Pine cones are held at branch tips
Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Limber Pine cones start with broad, green scales
Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Limber Pine seeds defended by large scales and lots of sticky sap
Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Limber Pine dries cone showing broad scales
Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Limber Pine dries cone showing broad scales
Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Cones on the tree chewed by rodents
Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Cones on the tree chewed by rodents

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate.
copyright; Last updated 230811

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