Nevada’s State Trees

NRS 235.040 State trees. The trees known as the Singleleaf Pinyon (Pinus monophylla) and the
Bristlecone Pine (Pinus longaeva) are hereby designated as the official state trees of the State of Nevada.

[1:72:1953]—(NRS A 1959, 107; 1987, 785; 1997, 1604)

AN ACT relating to state emblems; designating the bristlecone pine as the other state tree; and providing other matters properly relating thereto.

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE

AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

WHEREAS, The 1959 Nevada Legislature designated the single-leaf pinon (Pinus monophylla) as the official state tree of Nevada; and

WHEREAS, Another tree indigenous to Nevada, the bristlecone pine (Pinus aristata), while not as numerous as the pinon, is found in higher mountainous areas throughout much of the state; and

WHEREAS, The bristlecone pine is the oldest living thing on earth, with some specimens in Nevada now over 4,000 years of age; and

WHEREAS, Both the single-leaf pinon and the bristlecone pine serve as excellent learning tools concerning Nevada’s cultural and natural history; for example, pinenuts from the pinon have served as the staple food of the Indians of Nevada and cores of tree rings from the bristlecone pine tell us much about Nevada’s climate and environment over thousands of years; and

WHEREAS, Stands of bristlecone pine in Nevada’s first national park, Great Basin National Park, will be a key attraction for visitors from throughout the world; and

WHEREAS, No state in the nation has designated the bristlecone pine as its official state tree; and

WHEREAS, Because Nevada has three state nicknames, the “Silver State,” the “Sagebrush State” and the “Battle Born State,” the designation of two official state trees would not establish a precedent; now, therefore

THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEVADA, REPRESENTED IN SENATE

AND ASSEMBLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS

Section 1. NRS 235.040 is hereby amended to read as follows:

235.040 The [tree] trees known as the single-leaf pinon (Pinus monophylla) [is] and the bristlecone pine (Pinus aristata) are hereby designated as the official state [tree] trees of the State of Nevada.

[Effective July 1, 1987]