Pinus aristata - Western Bristlecone Pine

Description

The Bristlecone Pine is the oldest known living thing, the oldest Bristlecone yet found is 4,600 years old. An alpine tree growing between 7,500 and 11,500' in elevation, its height ranges between 20 to 45', but on high windswept deep snow ridges it may be much dwarfed. The trunk is usually short, with a wide, heavy bushy crown. Branches and trunks of young trees are smooth, almost chalky white, while mature trunks are reddish or dark brown with irregular fissures and flatr scaly ridges. Needles are arranged in bundles af 5. Cones take 2 years to mature.