Bristlecone Pine: Patriarch Grove, Inyo National Forest, California The lack of undergrowth, due to the poor soil conditions, gives the bristlecones protection from fire. Individual trees may be struck by lightning, but the forest will not burn.

Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest in the White Mountains of California.
http://suisekiart.com/2008/07/27/the-oldest-trees-on-earth/

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jtroth > detail of the root area. Note how the soil has eroded from around the base of the tree.

jtroth > Twisted trunk Bristlecone Pine; White Mountains, White Mountain Road, Inyo National Forest, California

Sun and wind have caused the live wood to twist around the dead wood in a spiral pattern.

jtroth > detail of Bristlecone Pine foliage

The Bristlecone is a member of the "foxtail pine" group of trees. Whereas most pine trees have only 2-3 years worth of needles on the ends of the branches, foxtail pines keep many years worth. This gives their branches the appearance of a fox's tail - and hence the name. The three species of foxtail pine grow only in the high mountains of the western U.S.A.

jtroth > Bristlecone Pine: Patriarch Grove, Inyo National Forest, California

Clark's Nutcrackers (a type of jay) play an important role in propagating the bristlecones. During the summer they cache the seeds underground to eat during the winter. Those that aren't retrieved may sprout and grow. Since these seeds are often planted near each other, the resulting trees eventually grow together.

jtroth > Patriarch tree; Patriarch Grove, Inyo National Forest, California

The Patriarch Tree is the largest Bristlecone known. It has several trunks and is about 20 feet long and 38 feet around. It had been thought to be multiple trees that had grown together, but modern DNA analysis shows it to be all one tree.

Though this area is at a very high altitude, it is relatively protected and the trees grow very large. They do not however live as long as those down in the harsher environment of the Schulman Gtove. The Patriarch Tree is only about 1500 years old.

jtroth > closeup of the Patriarch tree's multiple trunks

jtroth > Viewing the Patriarch

At an altitude of 11,300 feet (3444 m) a stump to sit on is welcome.

jtroth > Bristlecone Pine: Patriarch Grove, Inyo National Forest, California

The lack of undergrowth, due to the poor soil conditions, gives the bristlecones protection from fire. Individual trees may be struck by lightning, but the forest will not burn.

Bristlecone Pine: Patriarch Grove, Inyo National Forest, California

The lack of undergrowth, due to the poor soil conditions, gives the bristlecones protection from fire. Individual trees may be struck by lightning, but the forest will not burn.

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Keywords: white mountains old tree bristlecone pine inyo national forest

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