Native Plant Database

Pinus engelmannii Carr.

Apache pine

Pinaceae (Pine Family)

USDA Symbol: pien2

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Medium-sized tree with straight axis, open, rounded crown of few, large, spreading branches, 1 row added a year, and very long needles.

This Mexican pine extends northward to the Chiricahua Mountains and a few other ranges near the border. As the name implies, it grows in Apache Indian country. The seedlings pass through a grasslike stage with a short stem and very long needles to 15 (38 cm), as does Longleaf Pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) in the Southeast.

The species of this plant is named for George Engelmann (1809-1884) who was born in Germany and settled in St. Louis, Missouri, as a young man. He was a physician and botanist, describing especially North American Abies (Firs), Agaves, Cactus (for which he described more than 108 species), Cuscuta (Dodder), Euphorbiaceae (Spurge Family), Juncus (Rushes), Juniperus (“Cedar”), Pinus (Pines), Vitis (Grapes), and Yuccas. When he died much of his collection went to Missouri Botanical Garden.

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