I've come across several 2-needle pines that I think might be Pinus radiata, which usually has 3 needles. I thought I'd share these observations and some thoughts on them. I'm interested in any comments folks might have.
Here are some pines observed in the Monterey area with 2 needles:
Here are my observations of these taxa so far, starting with perhaps the most interesting ones.
List A: "2-needle radiata-like". I'm starting to think these are 2-needle radiata, and perhaps not muricata, as the "2-needle" character would initially indicate in keys. Their cones appear to be somewhat less persistent than muricata cones. In all cases, I've checked multiple fasicles on multiple branches before concluding that they are "2-needled". In all cases where I've been able to check, other trees nearby shared the 2-needle character, but 3-needle radiata were also not too far away. I've been ID'ing on iNat these as "muricata" just to keep them separate from the numerous radiata, but I suspect the proper ID might be radiata and I'll probably switch them over at some point.
Frog Pond East (on the former Fort Ord)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110921602
Toro Creek
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/110532655
Seaside East
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/106836018
Fort Ord Dunes State Park
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/100893720
CSUMB Intergarrison Open Space
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/97518290
Jacks Peak
-- https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/118059859
Garland Ranch
-- https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/107862539 (not my obs)
South Boundary Road (on the former Fort Ord)
-- https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/139588421 (this one has 2s and 3s, but many 2s)
Fort Ord National Monument "Kangaroo Mesa"
-- https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/157847458
List B. Straight-up 2-needle muricata long-prickled (northern & Monterey form) in the core of a well-known muricata area:
List C. 2-needle muricata short-prickled (southern form), possibly from Fort Ord Army planting and progeny thereof:
List D. Straight-up muricata (bishop pine) (or possibly attenuata, knobcone pine) alone in a previously unknown (?) location:
CSUMB Intergarrison Open Space
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/117653317
List E. Contorta ssp. contorta (shore pine)
List F. Pinus pinea (Italian stone pine)
Reservation Rd near Fort Ord
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/119012050 - large tree - measured leaves, cones, seeds, wings
Fort Ord - Crescent Bluff Rd
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/107157613
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/105110378
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/105051519
Fort Ord - Toro Creek
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/116648971
Fort Ord - Happy Trails
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/132091096
Fort Ord - CSUMB East Campus
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/118940094 - planted, I presume / recall
Plenty are showing up wild throughout East Campus, and becoming somewhat invasive in maritime chaparral west of East Campus.
Toro Park
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/105869433
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/105869433
List G. P. halepensis (Aleppo pine)
List H. Straight-up radiata
Huckleberry Hill - not far from a well-known muricata stand
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/109246905
CSUMB Intergarrison Open Space - an Army-planed grove?
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/112443323
List I. Undecided
Side note: I'm wondering if the color of incipient female cones might be indicative:
Bright red
https://www.inaturalist.org/photos/188859703 - P. muricata (northern& Monterey form)
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/118850198 - P. contorta ssp. contorta
Purple
P. radiata (have photos from 2021 that I need to upload)
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