The Foxtail Pine (Pinus balfouriana) is a rare pine that is endemic to California, United States, where it is found in two areas with a separate subspecies in each, the typical subsp. balfouriana in the Klamath Mountains, and subsp. austrina in the southern Sierra Nevada. Foxtail Pines occur in the subalpine forest in these mountains: at an elevation of 1950-2750 meter in the Klamath range, and 2300-3500 meter in the Sierra Nevada. In the Sierra Nevada, Foxtail pines are limited to the area around Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. In both areas, it is often a tree line species. Foxtail Pine is a tree to 10-20 meter tall, exceptionally 35 meter, and up to 2 meter trunk diameter. The leaves are needle-like, in bundles of five with a semi-persistent basal sheath, and 2-4 centimeter long, deep glossy green on the outer face, and white on the inner faces; they persist for 10-15 years. The cones are 6-11 centimeter long, dark purple ripening red-brown, with soft, flexible scales each with a one millimeter central prickle.