Other Common Names/Trade Names: Western Yellow Pine
Scientific Name: Pinus contorta, Pinus pondersoa
Best Characteristics for Identification:  Resin canals, abrupt transition from earlywood to latewood. Resinous odor, resin pockets.
Uses: Plywood, Framing lumber, poles, log cabins
General Natural Range: Lodgepole pine: Yukon territory south through British Columbia and Alberta. South to Colorado and west to the Pacific coast and the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Ponderosa Pine: Extends from  Southern British Columbia south throughout the Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain states into Mexico.
Identical or Nearly Identical Species: Jeffrey Pine
Other Species Easily Confused With: Southern yellow pines, red pine
Means of Distinguishing Similar Species:  Southern yellow pines typically have very wide growth rings and thick dense latewood compared to western yellow pines and red pine. Western yellow pines frequently are dimpled on the tangential face, especially lodgepole pine whereas the others are not dimpled. Wood from Jeffrey Pine, although nearly identical to Ponderosa and lodgepole pine, is somewhat less dense.