| OCTOBER 2024 Pinyon Day Trip Earlier this month our program director, Elizabeth McGreevy, saw her first wild population of Hill Country pinyon pines on a hilltop near Leakey. Commonly known as Papershell Pinyons, these native pines grow alongside mountain cedars in the shallow, well-draining soils of limestone karst country. Papershell Pinyons ( Pinus remota ) are one of three pinyon pine trees that grow in Texas. The other two are Pinus edulis , the state tree of New Mexico, and P. cembroides , the common pinyon of northern Mexico. Those pinyons are both found at higher elevations, from 4600 to 9800 feet, whereas the Papershell Pinyon is found at 1500 to 5900 feet elevations. What Made Those Limestone Holes? Have you ever looked down at exposed limestone and seen a bunch of holes? Have you wondered if perhaps they were formed by tree roots long ago or if that area used to be exposed to wave action by some ancient sea? We contacted our karst geology expert, Geary Schindel, to find out. He told us surface holes are karst features called Pit Karrens. Geary explained these ancient formations were created when the limestone was covered with deeper soil. That soil would have contained many burrowing rodents, bugs, and worms. Each time it rained, their holes would funnel the water down to the limestone. Since rainwater creates a weak acid as it passes through the air and soil, it will gain the ability to slowly dissolve limestone. Wherever funneled this weak acid would have dissolved more limestone, creating the holes we see today! Our New Sticker Offered in two sizes: 2.5” wide or 4.5” wide. Look for them at our next presentation! VISIT OUR WEBSITE |
Pinyon Day Trip
Earlier this month our program director, Elizabeth McGreevy, saw her first wild population of Hill Country pinyon pines on a hilltop near Leakey. Commonly known as Papershell Pinyons, these native pines grow alongside mountain cedars in the shallow, well-draining soils of limestone karst country.
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Papershell Pinyons (Pinus remota) are one of three pinyon pine trees that grow in Texas. The other two are Pinus edulis, the state tree of New Mexico, and P. cembroides, the common pinyon of northern Mexico. Those pinyons are both found at higher elevations, from 4600 to 9800 feet, whereas the Papershell Pinyon is found at 1500 to 5900 feet elevations.
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What Made Those Limestone Holes?
Have you ever looked down at exposed limestone and seen a bunch of holes? Have you wondered if perhaps they were formed by tree roots long ago or if that area used to be exposed to wave action by some ancient sea?
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We contacted our karst geology expert, Geary Schindel, to find out. He told us surface holes are karst features called Pit Karrens. Geary explained these ancient formations were created when the limestone was covered with deeper soil. That soil would have contained many burrowing rodents, bugs, and worms. Each time it rained, their holes would funnel the water down to the limestone. Since rainwater creates a weak acid as it passes through the air and soil, it will gain the ability to slowly dissolve limestone. Wherever funneled this weak acid would have dissolved more limestone, creating the holes we see today!
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Our New Sticker
Offered in two sizes: 2.5” wide or 4.5” wide. Look for them at our next presentation!
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