The singleleaf pine, commonly known as the Pinyon Pine, is the state tree of Nevada, and is named for its rigid, solitary needles. It is a small to medium sized tree with dark brown to grey bark that is smooth when the tree is young but becomes rough and scaly as the tree matures. It is a very slow growing and long-lived conifer that typically grows on dry, rocky slopes and ridges. It is widely
distributed in the mountains of the Great Basin and the deserts of the southwestern United States. The singleleaf pine is resistant to both frost and drought, but mature pinyon pines are not shade tolerant and require full sunlight for maximum growth.
Drought resistance is due in part to an extensive lateral root system that is able to extend into areas between trees to obtain water. The singleleaf pinyon produces thick, scaly cones which bear large, heavy, edible
seeds, called pine nuts. The seeds are wingless and so their dispersal depends on animals (including the Pinyon jay) that collect and store them underground, where those that are not eaten germinate.
