Botanical Nerd Word: Contorted

Pinus strobus 'Contorta'

Contorted: Twisted or bent.*

Pinus strobus ‘Contorta’ is a cultivar of eastern white pine growing in our Nature’s Garden. According to Missouri Botanical Garden’s Plant Finder, it was discovered growing in a park in Rochester, New York in 1932. Unlike regular white pines, ‘Contorta’ has twisted branches and needles.

*Harris, J.G., Harris, M.W. (2001). Plant identification terminology: An illustrated glossary (2nd ed.). Spring Lake: Spring Lake Publishing.