Torrey pine

Pinus torreyana
Torrey pine[1]
A Torrey pine on the northeast coast of Santa Rosa Island, California
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Division: Pinophyta
Class: Pinopsida
Order: Pinales
Family: Pinaceae
Genus: Pinus
Subgenus: Pinus
Species: P. torreyana
Binomial name
Pinus torreyana
Parry ex Carr.
Natural range of Pinus torreyana

The Torrey pine, Pinus torreyana, is a rare pine species in the United States, an endangered species growing only on the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, a bluff above the Pacific Ocean, and on one of the Channel Islands, endemic to the coastal sage and chaparral ecoregion in the U.S. state of California.[2][3]

Description

Torrey pine: female pine cones

Pinus torreyana is a broad, open-crowned pine tree growing to 8–17 meters (26–56 ft) tall in the wild, with 25–30 centimeters (9.8–11.8 in) long leaves ('needles') in groups of five. The cones are stout and heavy, typically 8–15 cm (3.1–5.9 in) long and broad, and contain large, hard-shelled, but edible, pine nuts.[2] The species name torreyana is named for John Torrey, an American botanist, after whom the coniferous genus Torreya is also named.[4]

Distribution

A wild Torrey pine grove, Santa Rosa Island, California.

The "wild" native population of Pinus torreyana is restricted to trees growing in a narrow strip along the Southern California coast in San Diego.[5] There is also a population of the variety Pinus torreyana var. insularis in two groves on Santa Rosa Island, a California Channel Island off the coast of Santa Barbara.[6][7] The presence of Torrey pines along the semi-arid coast of San Diego and Santa Rosa Island (rainfall less than 15 inches per year) is probably a relic population of a much more extensive Ice Age distribution. Coastal fog during spring and summer along the San Diego and Santa Rosa Island coast provides just enough moisture to supplement the fairly low winter rainfall, allowing for survival of the species in the wild habitat zone.[8]

Habitat

In its native habitat, Pinus torreyana is found in the Coastal sage scrub plant community, growing slowly in dry sandy soil. The root system is extensive. A tiny seedling may quickly send a taproot down 60 centimeters (24 in) seeking moisture and nutrients. A mature tree may have roots extending 75 meters (246 ft). Exposed trees battered by coastal winds are often twisted into beautiful sculptural shapes resembling large bonsai, and rarely exceed 12 m (39 ft) tall.

Conservation

Pinus torreyana was one of the rarest pine species in the world in the early 20th century, with only around 100 trees surviving. Pinus squamata, a critically endangered species in southwest China, is considered the rarest pine currently with only around 20 trees remaining.

Uses

Food

The pine nuts were an important food for the Kumeyaay tribe of Native American people.

Cultivation

Endangered in the wild, Torrey pine is planted as an ornamental tree.[9] They are used in native plant and drought tolerant gardens and landscapes. Under cultivation, on richer soils with higher rainfall or supplemental irrigation, the Torrey pine is capable of fast growth to a large size, with tall and straight trees from 33 metres (108 ft)[9] to 45 meters (148 ft) in height.[10][11]

The Torrey pine is protected by a city tree ordinance in Del Mar, near the native habitat, and construction projects and citizens require a permit for its removal.[12]

Forestry

Pinus torreyana has been considered as a plantation tree for forestry use in Australia, New Zealand and Kenya.[13]

Naming

In San Diego County it is considered a local icon, where it lends its name to Torrey Pines State Reserve, Torrey Pines State Beach, Torrey Pines Golf Course, Torrey Pines High School, and Torrey Pines Gliderport, as well as numerous local roads, businesses (e.g., Torrey Pines Bank,[14] Torrey Pines Property Management Company,[15] Torrey Pines Landscape Company[16]), and parks.

Terminology

strobili on a Torrey pine

Some unusual terms that are used to describe the Torrey pine are:

See also

References

  1. ↑ Conifer Specialist Group (1998). Pinus torreyana var. torreyana. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on May 11, 2006. Listed as Endangered (EN C2b)
  2. 1 2 "Pinus torreyana Parry ex Carrière". Ucjeps.berkeley.edu. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  3. ↑ C. Michael Hogan PhD (September 11, 2008). "Torrey Pine (Pinus torreyana)". GlobalTwitcher.com. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  4. ↑ Lisa (September 22, 2010). "Tree Identification: Pinus torreyana - Torrey Pine". Lh2treeid.blogspot.com. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  5. ↑ Moore, Gerry; Kershner, Bruce; Craig Tufts; Daniel Mathews; Gil Nelson; Spellenberg, Richard; Thieret, John W.; Terry Purinton; Block, Andrew (2008). National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America. New York: Sterling. p. 84. ISBN 1-4027-3875-7.
  6. ↑ "Pinus torreyana Parry ex Carrière subsp. insularis J. R. Haller". Ucjeps.berkeley.edu. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  7. ↑ Christopher J. Earle. "Pinus torreyana (Torrey pine) description". The Gymnosperm Database. Retrieved May 4, 2014.
  8. ↑ Williams, A. Park, Christopher J. Still, Douglas T. Fischer, and Steven W. Leavitt. "The influence of summertime fog and overcast clouds on the growth of a coastal Californian pine: a tree-ring study." Oecologia 156, no. 3 (2008): 601-611.
  9. 1 2 Anne Krueger (February 6, 2007). "Residents say tree too big, too old for neighborhood". Union-Tribune Publishing Co. Retrieved May 31, 2014. Houses replaced avocado groves on the East County land that surrounds the Torrey pine. The tree, now 60 or 70 years old, towers 108 feet over Queen Avenue.
    ...
    Torrey pines are widely planted as an ornamental species, and can grow in temperate climates around the world.
  10. ↑ "TORREY PINE HABITAT". Shipley Nature Center. Retrieved May 31, 2014. In cultivation, it is capable of growth up to 148 feet
  11. ↑ "Torrey Pine, Pinus torreyana". redOrbit. Conifers Reference Library. Retrieved May 31, 2014. The Torrey pine is planted as ornamental trees, with better soil and with controlled watering, it lends to being a fast growing tree to heights of 148 feet. This pine is drought tolerant as the tap roots can go as deep as 200 feet to find moisture. The tree is also shade tolerant.
  12. ↑ "How can I cut my tree down?". City of Del Mar. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  13. ↑ McMaster, Gregory Scott (1980). Patterns of reproduction in Torrey pine (Pinus torreyana) (Thesis). San Diego, California: San Diego State University.
  14. ↑ "Torrey Pines Bank". December 17, 2010. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Torrey Pines Property Management Company, San Diego Property Management, Apartments for Rent in San Diego, CA". Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  16. ↑ "San Diego Landscape Designers Contractors Torrey Pines Landscaping". Tplandscape.com. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  17. ↑ Parry ex Carrière 1855. "Pinus torreyana (Torrey pine) description". Conifers.org. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Chaparral and Riparian Plants". Sci.sdsu.edu. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  19. ↑ "Pinus torreyana". Fs.fed.us. July 12, 1972. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  20. ↑ Santiago (January 25, 2005). "germination of Torrey pines". Archived from the original on May 11, 2014. Retrieved August 9, 2013.
  21. ↑ "Natural Treasure: The One and Only Torrey Pine". Naturaltreasureucsd.blogspot.com. February 7, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  22. ↑ "Life Cycle - torreypinedo2". Sites.google.com. July 22, 2011. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  23. ↑ "Welcome to My Garden!: Torrey Pines State Reserve". Loresgardens.blogspot.com. August 17, 2008. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  24. ↑ "Torrey Pine". Project Noah. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  25. ↑ jiobrien. "Torrey Pine with witch's broom". Archived from the original on May 12, 2012. Retrieved May 4, 2014. The witch's broom or gorrila's nest is an abnormal area of growth on the tree of uncertain origin.

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