Singleleaf Piñon Pine
Pinus monophylla

GROWING CONDITIONS
AN EXPLANAITION OF TERMS USED

SUN afternoon shade in summer while young, older plants can take full sun, full sun in higher elevations
WATER moderate to low
SOIL well-drained
HARDINESS hardy to about -10°F
BASIN high zone
CONTAINER does ok in container but will not attain full size
NUTRITION low
MAINTENANCE very little

ECOLOGY
In general pine species provide seeds and vital habitat for birds and mammals. Many are larval host for lepidoptera like the Chiricahua White butterfly (Neophasia terlootii), the Pandora pinemoth (Coloradia pandora), the Pine White butterfly (Neophasia menapia), the Western Conifer Looper (Caripeta aequaliaria), the Pandora Pinemoth (Coloradia pandora) the snout moth Dioryctria pentictonella, and the Variable Girdle Moth (Sabulodes venata). Many insects are associated with pines which in turn provide food for several species of birds. The seeds are dispersed by the pinyon jay, which plucks them out of the open cones. The jay, which uses the seeds as a food resource, stores many of the seeds for later use, and some of these stored seeds are not used and are able to grow into new trees. The seeds are also eaten by wild turkey, Montezuma quail, and various mammals. Pines are keystone species in elevations where they occur. Pine nuts are an important food for the thick billed parrot which used to occur in southern Arizona, but was extirpated by Europeans when they arrived in the southwest. The thick billed parrot still occurs in Mexico and many are hopeful that the parrot may make a comeback. Arid conditions caused by global warming has hurt our native pine populations, especially the higher elevation pines. Arid-growing pines like this and the regular piñon pine may become more dominant of the regions where the higher elevation pines are being decimated.

ETHNOBOTANY
The nuts are widely collected and eaten by many indigenous people, and this is the main piñon used in the commercial pine nut harvest in the southwest. The pitch can be used for wounds or cuts and sometimes it is used to dye wool. The needles are used by many people for medicinal purposes. The wood is used to construct a number of items. Needles are used to make small baskets.

NATURAL DISTRIBUTION
Found in dry woodlands from 3,500-7,500 ft in the southwestern United States, particularly concentrated in the Great Basin.

TAXONOMY AND NAME
This plant is in the Pinaceae, the pine family. There are 134 species of pines worldwide (with many subspecies and varieties).
Pinus is the ancient Latin name for pines. The species name “monophylla” means single leaf in Latin.