Sub-genus Strobus

• Pinus lambertiana the sugar pine

Big tree. Five needles per fasicle (~8cm), fasicles loosing sheath. Seed cone long (>~36cm, with apophysis = thickness of scale, unarmored terminal umbo at tips of scales. Pollen cones much smaller and transitory.

• P. monticola the western white pine, min-sugar pine

Characters as above, but with seed cones being smaller (~15-25cm)

• P. monophylla the pinyon pine

Small desert pine. One needle per fasicle (~5cm), fasicle sheath residual. Seed cone rounded, squat, with apophysis +/-=width of scale, unarmored dorsal umbo.

Sub-genus Pinus

• Pinus attenuata the knobcone pine

Tree habit. Three needles per fasicle (8-10cm), with fasicle remaining at maturity. Serotinous cones, staying narrow with scales sealed, basal scales much reduced giving a lopsided appearance, when open scales armed with spikes pointing out.

• P. contorta the lodgepole pine

Beach friendlt pine tree. Two short needles per fasicle (~5-6cm), with fasicles remaining. Seed cones also small, with some basal scale reduction, scales armored with spikes oriented out.

• P. jeffreyii the Jeffrey pine

Treee. Three needles per fasicle (>15cm), fasicle remaining. Has distinctly sweet smelling bark with deep ridges. Seed cones with thickened apaophysis > width of scale, armored dorsal umbo spikes pointing down "gentle Jeff".

• P. ponderosa the Ponderosa pine, yellow pine

Tree. Needles much as above. Bark has distinct puzzle piece/mosaic look to it, smells of turpentine. Seed cones much as above, but with spike oriented out "poky Ponderosa".

• P. sabiniana_ the gray pine, ghost pine

Tree. Needles much as above (~>25cm), glossy pale gray green appearance, with multiple narrow bands of stomata on leaves. Needles often sparse or drooping. Seed cones as above, but large, (12-36 wide and just as long), spikes on thickened apophysis dorsal umbo large, and oriented up and outward.