Pinus coulteri Coulter pine

Top half of Pinus coulteri, viewed from the hillock just west of 1047 Campus Drive (now removed). Sairus Patel, 2 Jan 2019

Seed cones (9½ and 9″ long) and needles in groups of 3 (6¾″ long) of Pinus coulteri, 1047 Campus Drive (now removed). Sairus Patel, 2 Jan 2019

Coulter pine is conspicuous by its large cones (it is often called bigcone pine) that may be over a foot long and are covered with long, wicked, incurving claws. The needles are in threes, about 9 inches long and have a deep bluish tinge. Coulter pine is widespread in the coast ranges of Southern California, but is also common in the Santa Lucia Mountains just south of Monterey, and reaches as far north as the Bay Area. The cone scales have a rather attractive two-tone coloration. Why this native has not been accorded more respect on campus is a mystery. It is named for the Irish botanist Thomas Coulter (1793–1843).

A mature specimen 40 feet west of the 1047 Campus Drive parking lot, among a group of P. halepensis, was removed around 2020. A handsome row of four is on the Starling Drive side of 10597 Baxter Ave, Los Altos.

Pinus coulteri cone, needles, seeds. From: George B. Sudworth, Forest Trees of the Pacific Slope

Comparison of seeds and seed wings of Pinus coulteri and Pinus sabiniana. John Rawlings, c 2005

Name derivation: Pinus – Latin for pine; coulteri – after its discoverer Thomas Coulter (1793–1843), an Irish botanist and physician.