Pinus torreyana subsp. insularis

Santa rosa island torrey pine, Santa Rosa Island Torrey Pine

Family: Pinaceae · Type: shrub · Native

Conservation status: CNPS 1B.2

Santa rosa island torrey pine is a rare (CNPS 1B.2) California native shrub found in the northern Channel Islands on Santa Rosa Island in coastal woodland at elevations below 150 meters. Producing no flower data, this pine displays distinctive gray-blue-green needles characteristic of its unique island habitat. Growing as a compact tree with mature crowns often wider than its height and densely crowded branches, it reaches trunk heights under 15 meters. Its seed cones are remarkably large, typically over 13.5 centimeters wide, with prominent scale tip knobs exceeding 6 millimeters that curve outward. The pine produces substantial seeds generally more than 11 millimeters wide, ranging from medium brown to nearly black in color.

Habitat: Forming densely forested strip on +- n-facing slope parallel to coast, with scattered chaparral, island woodland components

Elevation: < 150 m

Bioregions: n ChI (Santa Rosa Island).

California counties: Santa Barbara

Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Jepson eFlora, Cal-IPC, and more.