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Pinus torreyana
TORREY PINE
Pinaceae family
San Diego coastal/islands
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Pinus torreyana is one of the rarest pines in the world, endemic to a thin coastal strip of San Diego and Santa Rosa Island, off the California coast. Their numbers were reduced to approximately 100 trees in the early 20th Century. Today, however, the population has increased to a least 3000 trees thanks to conservation efforts.
A distinctive and an important identifying characteristic of Pinus torreyana are the five needles of each cluster. Used as a harvest crop in Australia, New Zealand, and Kenya, Pinus torreyana has been exported to the world. A 'rock star' of sorts for San Diego county native species, the Torrey pine typically is shaped by coastal winds and grows low and skewed in its native environment. But further inland away from the constant coastal winds, the Torrey pine can grow straight and reach staggering heights of more than 100 feet.
The species name is in honor of John Torrey (1796-1873), American botanist and founding member of the New York Lyceum of Natural History. Many of Presidio Park's Torrey pines are very large and impressive; several 60-70 feet in height. They are located in the eastern part of the park. It is a magnificent grove. Interestingly, Pinus torreyana is not mentioned by Percy Broell in 1937, but is documented by the Chauncy Jerabek plant identification of 1969.
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