Pinus ponderosa P.Lawson & C.Lawson

Medium-sized to large, open tree (over 30 m high in cultivation). Bark thick, fissured, reddish brown beneath. Shoots brown or brownish green, glabrous, shining. Buds ovoid or cylindric-ovoid, sometimes large, slightly resinous; scales fimbriate, often dark, free towards apex. Foliage in dense terminal clusters in mature trees, dull green. Lvs 3–(4) per fascicle, 10–23–(27) cm × 1.3–1.6–(2) mm, rigid; resin canals median; sheaths prominent, > 2 cm long when young, 5–20 mm long around older lf bases. ♂ strobili mostly 1.5–2 cm long, broad-cylindric. Conelets sessile; scales aristate. Mature open cones sessile, ± pendent, 6–14–(18) × 5–10 cm, ovoid-oblong before dehiscence, symmetric, shining brown, deciduous and dehiscent at or soon after maturity but leaving basal scales; apophyses flattened or slightly concave; umbo with prickle deflexed at maturity. Seed wing 1.5–2.5 cm long, large, broad, asymmetric.

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]