Pinus contorta var. latifolia Engelm.:
United States (North America)

Canada

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

United States

Origin: Native

Regularity: Regularly occurring

Currently: Present

Confidence: Confident

Type of Residency: Year-round

Global Range: Pinus contorta var. latifolia ranges in western North America from the extreme southern interior of Alaska; central and southern interior of the Yukon Territory; southwestern Northwest Territories; widely distributed throughout the interior of British Columbia; the western boundary, and scattered northern and southeastern occurrences in Alberta; southwestern Saskatchewan; interior areas within Washington and Colorado; eastern Oregon; north and central Idaho; western Montana, western Wyoming; northern Utah and an isolated occurrence in South Dakota.

Comments: Pinus contorta var. latifolia occurs from low to high montane forests, dry to wet bogs, and river terraces and slopes in lowland, montane and subalpine zones. It occurs often to the treeline. Elevations 0 to 3500m. (Flora of North America 1993)

In Great Britain and/or Ireland:
Foodplant / pathogen
Dothistroma coelomycetous anamorph of Mycosphaerella pini infects and damages live needle of Pinus contorta ssp. latifolia
Other: minor host/prey

Foodplant / pathogen
pycndium of Ramichloridium anamorph of Ramichloridium pini infects and damages shoot (young) of Pinus contorta ssp. latifolia
Other: major host/prey

Canada

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

United States

Rounded National Status Rank: N5 - Secure

Rounded Global Status Rank: T5 - Secure

Reasons: Pinus contorta var. latifolia is a fire-adapted, wide-ranging species throughout western North America, and although many populations are currently affected by dwarf mistletoe and beetle infestations, the variety has the potential to regenerate very well and is considered common throughout most of its range.

Environmental Specificity: Broad. Generalist or community with all key requirements common.

Comments: Rocky Mountain lodgepole pine occurs on a wide range of soils and sites. It quickly can colonize recently burned areas, forming large pure stands.

Global Short Term Trend: Relatively stable (=10% change)

Global Long Term Trend: Increase of 10-25% to decline of 30%

Comments: Lodgepole dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium americanum) as well as hemlock dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium tsugense) are primary threats to Rocky Mountain lodgepole pine. Dwarf mistletoe alters tree form, suppresses growth, and reduces volume and overall wood quality of its host. Lodgepole dwarf mistletoe is also an important factor determining crown dimensions - heavily infected trees are 18% shorter, have crown bases 37% lower and 11-13% smaller diameters than uninfected trees (Godfree et al. 2002). Blue stain fungus (Ophiostoma sp.), as a beetle-associated fungus, invades the sapwood following infestations from the mountain pine beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae) (Solheim 1995). Trees are unlikely to survive the fungus invasion following the bark beetle infestation. Natural fire frequency in Rocky Mountain lodgepole pine stands ranges from a few years to 200 years depending on location, and the species is subject to, and adapted to a mixed-severity fire regime, where a combination of low, moderate and high severity fires have occurred (Anderson 2003).

Comments: Smaller trees cut, stripped of bark, and dried slowly in the sun. Used as lodgepoles.

Comments: Variety latifolia is the most wide-ranging and commercially utilized variety of Pinus contorta (Flora of North America 1993).