Editing Pinus longaeva (section)

==Description==
It is a medium-size tree, reaching {{convert|5|to|15|m|abbr=on}} tall and with a trunk diameter of up to {{convert|2.5|to|3.6|m|ft|0|abbr=on}}. The bark is bright orange-yellow, thin and scaly at the base of the trunk. The [[Pine#Foliage|needles]] are in fascicles of five, stout, {{convert|2.5|to|4|cm|frac=4|abbr=on}} long, deep green to blue-green on the outer face, with [[stoma]]ta confined to a bright white band on the inner surfaces. The leaves show the longest persistence of any plant, with some remaining green for 45 years (Ewers & Schmid 1981).

The [[conifer cone|cones]] are ovoid-cylindrical, {{convert|5|to|10|cm|0|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|3|to|4|cm|frac=2|abbr=on}} broad when closed, green or purple at first, ripening orange-buff when 16 months old, with numerous thin, fragile scales, each scale with a bristle-like spine {{convert|2|to|5|mm|frac=16|abbr=on}} long. The cones open to {{convert|4|to|6|cm|frac=2|abbr=on}} broad when mature, releasing the seeds immediately after opening. The seeds are {{convert|5|mm|frac=16|abbr=on}} long, with a {{convert|12|to|22|mm|frac=16|abbr=on}} wing; they are mostly dispersed by the wind, but some are also dispersed by [[Clark's nutcracker]]s.{{Cn|date=April 2021}}

These ancient trees have a gnarled and stunted appearance, especially those found at high altitudes,<ref name="FEIS"/> and have reddish-brown bark with deep fissures.<ref name="Conifers">{{cite web|url=http://www.conifers.org/|title=The Gymnosperm Database|date=March 2008|access-date=30 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110627213720/http://www.conifers.org/|archive-date=27 June 2011|url-status=live}}</ref> As the tree ages, much of its [[vascular cambium]] layer may die. In very old specimens, often only a narrow strip of living tissue connects the roots to a handful of live branches.{{Cn|date=April 2021}}

The Great Basin bristlecone pine differs from the [[Pinus aristata|Rocky Mountain bristlecone pine]] in that the needles of the former always have two uninterrupted resin canals, so it lacks the characteristic small white resin flecks appearing on the needles of the latter. The Great Basin bristlecone pine differs from the [[Pinus balfouriana|foxtail pine]] because the cone bristles of the former are over {{convert|2|mm|abbr=on}} long, and the cones have a more rounded (not conic) base. The green pine needles give the twisted branches a bottle-brush appearance. The name 'bristlecone pine' refers to the dark purple female cones that bear incurved prickles on their surface.<ref name="Sonic">{{cite web|url=http://www.sonic.net/bristlecone/home.html|title=The Ancient Bristlecone Pine|date=August 2003|access-date=30 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110806100538/http://www.sonic.net/bristlecone/home.html|archive-date=6 August 2011|url-status=live}}</ref>
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File:Inyo Bristlecone bcp tree (5632371665).jpg|Tree in [[Inyo National Forest]]
File:Pinus longaeva young cone Patriarch Grove.jpg|Young Cone
File:Pinus longaeva mature cone Patriarch Grove.jpg| Mature Cone
File:2015-07-13 07 39 32 Foliage and pollen cones on a Great Basin Bristlecone Pine along the North Loop Trail about 5.4 miles west of the trailhead in the Mount Charleston Wilderness, Nevada.jpg|pollen cones
File:Bristlecone Pinus longaeva new growth.jpg|New growth
File:White Mtns Ancient Bristlecone Pines Park - grainy (11226427796).jpg|Bark

</gallery>