Editing Pinus quadrifolia

{{Short description|Pine tree found in North America}}
{{speciesbox
| image = Pinusquadrifolia.jpg
| status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=iucn/>
| parent = Pinus subsect. Cembroides
| display_parents = 3
| taxon = Pinus quadrifolia
| authority = [[Filippo Parlatore|Parl.]] ex [[George Bishop Sudworth|Sudw.]]
| synonyms = ''Pinus parryana''<ref name=grin>{{GRIN | accessdate = 10 January 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite book | last1 = Chase| first1 = J. Smeaton| author-link1 = J. Smeaton Chase|others=[[Carl Eytel|Eytel, Carl]] (illustrations)|title = Cone-bearing Trees of the California Mountains |chapter=''Pinus parryana'', Also called ''Pinus quadrifolia'' (Four-leaf-pine, Parry-pine, Nut-pine, Piñon)|chapter-url = https://archive.org/details/conebearingtrees00chas/page/64/mode/2up| location = Chicago | publisher = [[A.C. McClurg & Co.]] | pages = 64–66 |year=1911 | oclc = 3477527|lccn=11004975}}</ref><br>''Pinus juarezensis''<ref name=ns>[http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/servlet/NatureServe?searchName=Pinus+quadrifolia ''Pinus quadrifolia''.] NatureServe. 2012.</ref>
| range_map = Pinus quadrifolia range map 2.png
| range_map_caption = Natural range of ''Pinus quadrifolia''
}}

'''''Pinus quadrifolia''''', the '''Parry pinyon''', is a [[pine]] in the [[pinyon pine]] group native to southernmost [[California]] in the [[United States]] and northern [[Baja California]] in [[Mexico]], from 33° 30' N south to 30° 30' N.<ref name="Moore2008">{{cite book |author=Moore, G.|title=National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America |publisher=Sterling |location=New York |year=2008 |page=93 |isbn=978-1-4027-3875-3|display-authors=etal}}</ref> The Parry pinyon has a lifespan of around 200 to 500 years. It is usually found in rocky areas that often have thin soil. It occurs at moderate altitudes from {{convert|1300|m|ft}} to {{convert|1800|m|ft}}, rarely as low as {{convert|1200|m|ft}} and as high as {{convert|2500|m|ft}}. It is scarce and often scattered in this region, forming open woodlands, usually mixed with [[juniper]]s. Other common names include '''nut pine'''<ref name=iucn>Farjon, A. 2013. [http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/42407/0 ''Pinus quadrifolia''.] In: IUCN 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2013.1. Downloaded on 31 July 2013.</ref> and '''fourleaf pinyon pine'''.<ref name=ns/>

==Description==
''Pinus quadrifolia'' is a small to medium size [[tree]], reaching {{convert|8|to|15|m|ft|abbr=on}} tall and with a trunk diameter of up to {{convert|40|cm|in|0|abbr=on}}, rarely more. The bark is thick, rough and scaly. The [[leaf|leaves]] (needles) are in fascicles of 4–5, moderately stout, {{convert|2.5|-|5.5|cm|in|frac=8|abbr=on}} long; glossy dark green with no [[stomata]] on the outer face, and a dense bright white band of stomata on the inner surfaces. The Parry pinyon begins to grow cones at around 10 to 20 years, and seed production is maximized at 50 or more years of age. The [[conifer cone|cones]] are globose, {{convert|4|-|5.5|cm|in|frac=8|abbr=on}} long and broad when closed, green at first, ripening yellow to orange-buff when 18–20 months old, with only a small number of thick scales, with typically 5–10 fertile scales.

The cones open to {{convert|5|to|7|cm|in|frac=4|abbr=on}} broad when mature, holding the [[seed]]s on the scales after opening. The seeds are {{convert|10|-|14|mm|in|frac=32|abbr=on}} long, with a thin shell, a white [[endosperm]], and a vestigial {{convert|1|-|2|mm|in|frac=32|abbr=on}} wing; they are dispersed by the [[pinyon jay]], which plucks the seeds 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. In addition to birds, rodents and other mammals can distribute its seeds.

===Hybrids===
The Parry pinyon frequently [[Hybrid (biology)|hybridises]] with [[Pinus monophylla|single-leaf pinyon]] (''P. monophylla'') where their ranges meet in southern California and northern Baja California. Hybrids are distinguished by intermediate features, with needles usually fascicles of 2–3 with some stomata on the outer surface. It has been suggested by some [[botanist]]s that the [[holotype]] specimen of ''P. quadrifolia'' is itself from a hybrid; presumed pure, non-hybrid specimens having been given the new name ''Pinus juarezensis'', the Juárez pinyon, after the [[Sierra de Juárez]] of northern Baja California. However, there is no proof that these specimens are genetically 'purer' than the original type specimen, and few botanists accept ''P. juarezensis'' as other than a synonym of ''P. quadrifolia''.

Despite the ease of hybridisation with single-leaf pinyon, Parry pinyon is genetically probably more closely related to the [[Pinus johannis|Johann's pinyon]] (''P. johannis'') and [[Pinus culminicola|Potosí pinyon]] (''P. culminicola''), despite being separated from them by well over {{convert|1000|km|mi|abbr=on}}.

=== Fire Ecology and Effects ===
The low density of organic material in areas where the Parry pinyon is found reduces the risk of fires spreading. However, due to low-hanging branches and thin bark, the Parry pinyon itself is susceptible to fire.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Pinus quadrifolia |url=https://www.fs.usda.gov/database/feis/plants/tree/pinqua/all.html |access-date=2022-10-21 |website=www.fs.usda.gov}}</ref> Larger Parry pinyons can survive fires of low to moderate heat, but younger pinyons can be wiped out by fires. The Parry pinyon does not possess the ability to resprout after a fire.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pinus quadrifolia Woodland Alliance |url=https://vegetation.cnps.org/alliance/62 |access-date=2022-10-21}}</ref>

==Uses==
The edible seeds, [[pine nut]]s, are collected throughout its range, though it is much less important than [[Pinus edulis|Colorado pinyon]] (''P. edulis'') for the crop. Parry pinyon is also occasionally planted as an ornamental tree and sometimes used as a [[Christmas tree]]. Due to the limited distribution of the species, the seeds of the Parry pinyon are not gathered commercially. They are more often consumed by birds, rodents (especially [[woodrat]]s) and other mammals.<ref>{{cite book |last=Whitney |first=Stephen |title=Western Forests (The Audubon Society Nature Guides) |date=1985 |publisher=Knopf |location=New York |isbn=0-394-73127-1 |page=[https://archive.org/details/westernforests00whit/page/415 415] |url=https://archive.org/details/westernforests00whit/page/415 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Little|first=E.|title=The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees, Western Region|date=1980|edition=10|pages=288|publisher=Knopf Doubleday Publishing |isbn=0394507614}}</ref> The [[Cahuilla]] tribe of southern [[California]] used the [[resin]] to make a face cream commonly used by girls to prevent [[sunburn]]. The [[nut (fruit)|nuts]] were useful as well. For the Cahuilla, the nuts were given to the babies to eat as an alternative from breast milk and were also grounded then mixed with water as a beverage. The nuts were roasted and eaten whole or made into mush. They were important to the Cahuilla as a trade item with neighboring tribes. The pine needles and roots were used as material for basketry and the bark was a reliable substance for making the roofs of houses. The resin was a glue for mending pottery and reattaching arrowheads to the arrow shafts. The wood was burnt for firewood and incense, since it had high [[combustibility]] and it gave a pleasant smell.<ref name="Pinus quadrifolia-Dearborn">{{cite web|title=Pinus quadrifolia|url=http://naeb.brit.org/uses/species/2972/|website=Native American Ethnobotany DB|access-date=November 19, 2019}}</ref>

The [[Diegueno]] also ate the nuts, but also the seeds as well.<ref name="Pinus quadrifolia-Dearborn" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.pinetum.org/cones/PNDucampopinus.htm Photo of cones.] pinetum.org

{{Taxonbar|from=Q3506492}}

[[Category:Pinus|quadrifolia]]
[[Category:Flora of the California desert regions]]
[[Category:Trees of Northern America]]
[[Category:Edible nuts and seeds]]