seeds are not used and are able to grow into new trees. Abert's squirrel also feeds on the seeds in preference to those of the ponderosa pine. History Mexican pinyon was the first pinyon pine described, named by Zuccarini in 1832. Many of the other pinyon pines have been treated as varieties or subspecies of it at one time or another in the past, but research in the last 10–50 years has shown that most are distinct species. Some botanists still include Johann's pinyon and Orizaba pinyon in Mexican pinyon; the former accounts for records of "Mexican pinyon" in southern Arizona and New Mexico. Mexican pinyon is a relatively non-variable species, with constant morphology over the entire range except for the disjunct population in the Sierra de la Laguna pine-oak forests of Baja California Sur; this is generally treated as a subspecies, Pinus cembroides subsp. lagunae, although some botanists treat it as a separate species, P. lagunae. This subspecies differs from the type in having slightly longer leaves, between and and longer, narrower cones, up to long. The seeds are widely collected in Mexico, being the main edible pine nut in the region. While palatable when raw, their flavor is considered to be improved when roasted. References External links Photos of Pinus cembroides tree and foliage Photo of cones (scroll half-way down) Cembroides Trees of Mexico Trees of the Southwestern United States Trees of the South-Central United States Trees of Baja California Sur Trees of temperate climates North American desert flora Drought-tolerant trees Edible nuts and seeds Plants used in Native American cuisine Least concern flora of North America Least concern biota of Mexico Least concern flora of the United States Flora of the Sierra Madre Occidental Flora of the Sierra Madre Oriental