Nevada has two state trees, the singleleaf pinyon pine and the bristlecone pine, both known for their unique characteristics. The singleleaf pinyon pine grows edible pine nuts and has single needles, while the bristlecone pine is the oldest known living tree species on Earth.
Each of the 50 United States has a variety of state emblems and symbols, such as state mottos, songs, birds, flowers, grasses, and trees. Nevada and California are the only two U.S. states to have more than one state tree. Singleleaf pinyon pine and bristlecone pine are both official trees of Nevada. The singleleaf pinyon pine was the first to be adopted as a state tree in Nevada in 1953, and remained the only one until 1987, when the bristlecone pine was also named a state tree.
Both state trees are generally small to medium in height, ranging from about 15 to 30 feet (4.57 to 9.14 meters), but are capable of growing to about 60 feet (18.28 meters) in some cases. These and many other types of pine typically do well in the hot, dry atmosphere of Nevada and its neighboring states. Some pines are particularly suited to desert conditions and are as common as oaks in cooler parts of the country. The Nevada state song Home Means Nevada even references pine trees in general as part of the meaning of home.
However, the trees chosen to be the Nevada State Tree were selected for more than just their presence in the area. Each has remarkable characteristics that distinguish it from other types of trees and pines in general. Nevada’s first state tree, the singleleaf pinyon pine, is one of the few varieties that grows, for example, edible pine nuts. It is also the only known pine that does not develop needles in clusters. Each pine needle is single, which gives the variety its name.
Like many pines, the single leaf grows very slowly and often has a dry, gnarled, gnarled appearance. These trees usually produce no cones for the first 35 years of life, and the seeds usually don’t appear until the trees are about 100 years old. The slow growth cycle means that many singleleaf pinyon pines are over 300 years old.
Three centuries is young, however, compared to the lifespan of Nevada’s other state tree, the bristly pine. The wood from this long-lived tree has even been used in research to improve the scientific accuracy of carbon dating. This remarkable variety of trees has the distinction of being the oldest known living tree species on Earth, and may also be the oldest living thing overall. The Methuselah Tree, a bristlecone pine tree in California that is still alive as of 2011, was found to be 4,789 years old when it was tested in 1957. Nevada’s oldest known bristlecone pine was not alive when it was tested, but is believed to have lived for more than 4,800 years.
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