Bristlecone Fir

(Abies bracteata)

Color Photograph: © by and Courtesy of Charles Webber, California Academy of Sciences

Bristlecone Fir (Abies bracteata)

Identifying Characters: The extremely restricted distribution, the distinctive long cone brachts, and the light red-brown bark will identify this species.

Measurements: Mature trees 40 to 100 feet in height and 1 to 3 feet in diameter.

Cones: Cones 2.5 to 4 inches long, egg-shaped and purple; brachts terminating in a very long projection giving the cone a bristly appearance.

Needles: Needles flat, sharp-pointed and stiff arranged in two rows; needle color shiny dark green above and with two white bands below.

Bark: Light red-brown, smooth becoming scaly and cracked near the base of the tree.

Native Range: This very rare species is restricted to a 60 mile long stretch of the California coast line in Los Padres National Forest near Monterey and Big Sur.

Habitat: Found in mixed evergreen forest on steep, rocky slopes and canyons.