Pinus torreyana is a broad, open-crowned pine tree growing to tall in the wild, with long leaves in groups of five. The cones are stout and heavy, typically long and broad, and contain large, hard-shelled, but edible, pine nuts. The species name torreyana is named for John Torrey, an American botanist, after whom the coniferous genus Torreya is also named.
Distribution
The "wild" native population of Pinus torreyana is restricted to trees growing in a narrow strip along the Southern California coast in San Diego. There is also a population of the variety Pinus torreyana var. insularis in two groves on Santa Rosa Island, a California Channel Island off the coast of Santa Barbara. The presence of Torrey pines along the semi-arid coast of San Diego and Santa Rosa Island is probably a relic population of a much more extensive Ice Age distribution. Coastal fog during spring and summer along the San Diego and Santa Rosa Island coast provides just enough moisture to supplement the fairly low winter rainfall, allowing for survival of the species in the wild habitat zone.
Habitat
In its native habitat, Pinus torreyana is found in the coastal sage scrubplant community, growing slowly in dry sandy soil. The root system is extensive. A tiny seedling may quickly send a taproot down seeking moisture and nutrients. A mature tree may have roots extending. Exposed trees battered by coastal winds are often twisted into beautiful sculptural shapes resembling large bonsai, and rarely exceed tall.
Conservation
Pinus torreyana was one of the rarest pine species in the world in the early 20th century, with only around 100 trees surviving. Pinus squamata, a critically endangered species in southwest China, is considered the rarest pine currently with only around 20 trees remaining.
Uses
Food
The pine nuts were an important food for the Kumeyaay tribe and the Chumash tribe of Native American people. They are also eaten by birds and rodents.
Cultivation
in the wild, Torrey pine is planted as an ornamental tree. Under cultivation, on richer soils with higher rainfall or supplemental irrigation, the Torrey pine is capable of fast growth to a large size, with tall and straight trees from to in height. The Torrey pine is protected by a city tree ordinance in Del Mar, near the native habitat, and construction projects and citizens require a permit for its removal.
Some unusual terms that are used to describe the Torrey pine are:
fascicle – a cluster of needles, which consists of a fixed number of needles for each pine species, which is five for the Torrey pine
stratification – the process of subjecting seeds to cold in order to encourage germination, which is a recommended practice for Torrey pine seeds
strobilus – a structure that functions as a flower but looks like a small cone, which for the Torrey pine looks like a yellow bud in a male strobilus and looks like a small red cone in a female strobilus
witch's broom – an unusually dense cluster of needles, which looks somewhat like a bird's nest, which can be caused by disease or some other cause, also called "gorilla's nest"
