bishop pine forest along Mt. Vision Road, Point Reyes National Seashore

Choose one of the canopy layers and see what other species are found in the bishop pine forest.

P. muricata is highly variable and can endure a variety of edaphic conditions. Although, it usually prefers shallow, acidic and poorly drained soils (Barbour & Major 1977), and is found on granitic or shale parent material. Other factors effecting its growth and occurrence include slope and climate. P. muricata frequently occupies north facing slopes where it can maximize fog exposure and precipitation (Bakker 1977). Under ideal environmental conditions (deep, moderately acidic soil and on gentle slopes), it grows tall, straight with few lateral branches that are mostly "limited to the upper portion of the tree" (Kozloff and Beidleman, p. 14, 1994). In more loosely populated stands, however, the branches may be more evenly spread from the top to ground level. In sharp contrast to the aforementioned mature stands, the pygmy forest of Mendocino County, California is but an extreme example of bonsai-like bishop pine growing on hard pan, podzolized soils (Evens, 1993).

The Peninsula is a microcosm of other bishop pine forests that can be observed through-out the Pacific coast. Here, bishop pine forests and individuals are found in all shapes and sizes. Perhaps, the most noticeable are the tall, luxuriant forests found along the northern end of Inverness Ridge (Bakker 1977; Evens 1993; Johnston 1994). According to Evens (pg. 43 1993), the soil found here is moderately deep, coarse, sandy loam. Its "permeability is moderately rapid and water capacity is low" and occurs in close association with the granitic rock that also predominates. You can get an idea of what the pygmy forest looks like, as you observe dwarf, isolated individuals that occur on small granitic "hogbacks" with twisted trunks battling the relentless wind.