Colorado Wild Plants and Fungi
by DaySounds © 2013-17
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Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis)
Its common and scientific names share the quality of the twigs to be unusually flexible,
to the point of bearing very high winds, or heavy snow accumulation, without breaking.
It can be found at elevations ranging from about 5,000 to 11,000 feet, growing from rich
to very poor soils, from being close to water to being at the edge of dry rock cliffs. When
the former is the environment, it grows tall and wide; when it is the latter, its shape is
contorted and its size small. Oftentimes, we can find a mixture of environments.
The seeds--usually growing in clusters of 2 in a semi-hard shell, wingless, within a scale,
are edible, either raw or cooked. The cambium provides nutrients as well. And the resin
can be used to start a cooking fire, build a torch for light, or temporarily seal fabric from
water. Twigs and branches provide excellent material as an in-between layer to build a
shelter.
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