Coulter Pine Seed-Bearing Cone

One Of The World's Most Massive Pine Cones

Sarah holding a large seed cone from a Coulter pine (Pinus coulteri). This species belongs to the Subgenus Diploxylon (Group Macrocarpae), along with the closely related digger pine (P. sabiniana) and Torrey pine (P. torreyana). All three species are native to California, but the Coulter pine has the largest cones. In fact, it has one of the most massive cones of all the more than 100 species of pines in the world. They may be up to 14 inches (36 cm) long and weigh more than 5 pounds (2.3 kg). Other pines, such as the sugar pine (P. lambertiana) have longer cones, but they have flimsy cone scales and do not weigh as much. The heavy cones of Coulter pine with talon-like, curved scales are definitely a hazard to anyone standing or sleeping under a cone-laden limb.

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