General: Singleleaf Pinyon Pine (Pinus monophylla) is a coniferous (cone-bearing) tree with round needles that radiate in all directions from the twigs. The cones are egg-shaped and 2- to 3-inches long. This species can be recognized by the single, round needle (other pines have bundles of needles). Occasionally, however, one might find a few split needles on a Singleleaf Pinyon Pine, giving the appearance of Two-needle Pinyon Pine.

In Nevada, Singleleaf Pinyon Pine is a common component of the montane vegetation in all mountain ranges the Upper Sonoran (Pinyon-Juniper Woodland) life zone. This is the only pinyon around Las Vegas. To the east in Zion and the Grand Canyon, the Two-needle Pinyon Pine is the common pinyon.

Family: Pine (Pinaceae).

Other Names: Pinus californiarum.

Plant Form: Short, spreading tree with a rounded crown.

Height: To 35 feet.

Trunk: To 1.5-feet diameter.

Bark: Smooth when young, aging to dark brown, furrowed into scaly ridges.

Branches: Many long, twisting branches giving the tree a rounded appearance.

Needles: Bundles of 1 (rarely 2); 1 to 2-inches long; light green to gray-green, slightly curved towards branch, sharp pointed tip.

Cones: Erect; 1 to 5 inches; oval; green, aging to light brown or reddish-brown. Scales thick, blunt.

Seeds: Two seeds per scale. Hard shell surrounds “pine nut.”

Habitat: Upper desert flats, bajadas, mountain sides, rocky ridges.

Elevation: 4,000 to 9,000 feet.

Distribution: Southeastern California to southeastern Idaho, extreme western Utah, south to northern Baja California.

Comments: This is the common pinyon pine in Nevada. This species might hybridize with Two-needle Pinyon Pine.