Pinus flexilis

Limber pine

Pinus flexilis, commonly known as the limber pine, is a resilient conifer native to the mountainous regions of western North America. Beyond its ecological importance, this species holds traditional medicinal value, with various parts historically used by indigenous cultures to treat ailments, showcasing its profound significance in ethnobotany.

  • Scientific name: Pinus flexilis
  • Family: Pinaceae
  • Native range: Northern America

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Pinidae and order Pinales, it is further categorized into the family Pinaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement within the genus Pinus.

Rank Classification Source
Kingdom Plantae WCVP
Phylum Streptophyta WCVP
Class Equisetopsida WCVP
Subclass Pinidae WCVP
Order Pinales WCVP
Family Pinaceae WCVP
Genus Pinus WCVP

Common Names

This plant, known scientifically as Pinus flexilis, is referred to by various common names depending on the language. In Hungarian, it is called Nevadai cirbolyafenyő, while in Arabic, it is known as صنوبر منحني. It is identified as Pi Limber in Catalan and as borovice ohebná in Czech. Furthermore, in German, the species is commonly called Biegsame Kiefer.
Language Common Name Source
hu Nevadai cirbolyafenyő Wikidata
ar صنوبر منحني Wikidata
ca Pi Limber Wikidata
cs borovice ohebná Wikidata
de Biegsame Kiefer Wikidata
et kaljumänd Wikidata
fr Pin flexible Wikidata
koi Лунвыв-рытвыв чочком пожум Wikidata
nv Naatsisʼáán bińdíshchííʼ Wikidata
pl sosna giętka Wikidata

Distribution

This plant exhibits a broad distribution across the mountainous regions of Western North America. In Western Canada, its presence is noted throughout the provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. Moving into the Northwestern United States, it can be found across the state of Idaho. The species also populates the rugged landscapes of Montana. Finally, its range extends further south into the high elevations of Colorado.

Region Area Source
Western Canada Alberta WCVP
Western Canada British Columbia WCVP
Northwestern U.S.A. Colorado WCVP
Northwestern U.S.A. Idaho WCVP
Northwestern U.S.A. Montana WCVP
Northwestern U.S.A. Oregon WCVP
Northwestern U.S.A. Wyoming WCVP
North-Central U.S.A. North Dakota WCVP
North-Central U.S.A. Nebraska WCVP
North-Central U.S.A. South Dakota WCVP

Plant Parts

This plant, commonly known as the Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis), is valued for its specific chemical properties found within its foliage. The leaf essential oils derived from its needles contain various aromatic compounds that are often studied for their therapeutic potential. These volatile oils, extracted from the plant's photosynthetic structures, serve as a primary source of the medicinal constituents used in various traditional and contemporary applications.
Total parts
1
Scientific sources
1
Plant Part Sources Confidence
leaf essential oils 1 ★☆☆☆☆

Chemicals

Pinus flexilis has 3 reported phytochemicals identified across 3 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include hirsutanonol, hirsutenone, oregonin.

Total chemicals
3
Scientific sources
3

Most Reported Compounds

Compound Sources Confidence
hirsutanonol 1 ★☆☆☆☆
hirsutenone 1 ★☆☆☆☆
oregonin 1 ★☆☆☆☆