I collected this come near donpedro lake in California. I think it is a ponderosa but I’d like a second opinion. It is missing some of the scales at the bottom so Bear that in mind.
Is that the whole cone? Or has it been broken or chewed at the bottom? Sorry I can’t tell. If it is broken, that’s a big cone and might be a Sugar Pine
To me, it looks like a Jeffrey Pine cone. I don’t know what the elevation is at Don Pedro, so it’s possible, but I would lead more commonly to a Jeffrey. They are very similar looking. Jeffrey tends to have a blueish green needle and the pondos a yellow green.
It’s definitely broken at the bottom. And has wicked sharp thorns at the tips . Maybe Jeffery. I don’t know not sugar pine though others were not so long. Although the top does look more like the ponderosa.
For as large of a tree a Pondo is… they have really small cones. Seeing the size in your hand and knowing it’s broken, my minimal experience would guess Jeffrey. Plant some and when they sprout you’ll find out
We shall see . One way or the other it’s all good
I have a couple Jeffrey seedlings. I think they will serve as my ponderosa since I’m in Orange County. Pondos need a winter