Pinus pungens Lamb.

• Authority

  Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

• Family

  Pinaceae

• Scientific Name

  Pinus pungens Lamb.

• Description

  Species Description - Small, often crooked tree to 10(20) m, with widely spreading branches; lvs in 2’s or rarely some of them in 3’s, dark bluish-green, stiff, sharp, usually twisted, mostly 4–9 cm × 1.5–2 mm; cones spreading or deflexed, conic-ovoid, mostly 6–9 cm long- persistent, often remaining closed for several years or until fire; apophysis thick, strongly elevated at the center, the umbo pyramidally projecting, with a very stout, spreading or upwardly curved spine 3–8 mm; seeds ca 2 cm; male cones reddish-purple. Dry or rocky soil, chiefly in the mts.; Pa. and adj. N.J. to n. Ga. Readily recognizable by its strongly armed cones.

• Common Names

  table mountain-top