Collecting White Bark Pine...5 needle Pinus albicaulis

[August44]

I was out looking and collecting a few and found a bit of a rare find for me...a larger, 5 trunked white bark pine in an open area fairly close to the road. The base is about 3.5+" and the tree is about 3' tall and the trunks are all about 3/4" in diameter each. I have collected white bark before and had good luck, but never anything this big. I'm thinking that I can't come down the hill with roots 2-4' long so there is going to have to be some root pruning going on up there, but I sure don't want to kill it. If the ground is full of rocks, then I know it will have a tap and won't even try. Any hints and help would be appreciated. White bark pine is not a rare tree around here by the way. Thanks for help! Peter

PS: No, I didn't have my camera. I know, I know!

 

[Leo in N E Illinois]

I've never collected pines from the mountains. But that is a wonderful find. Since white bark pines are locally abundant, I would just prune the roots as necessary to get them down off the mountain, as see how it goes.

 

[mwar15]

Did you ever collect this tree?

 

[August44]

No, looked and felt like it was anchored for life.

 

[mwar15]

No, looked and felt like it was anchored for life.

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