A very special tree in the alpine environment. On December 14, 2022, P. albicaulis was designated a Threatened species, becoming only the 11th plant species from Washington protected under the U. S. Endangered Species Act. The tree hardly ever grows above 15 meters (16′) and is often seen in its twisted and contorted form known as ‘krummholz.’ At the highest elevation, above what would be considered the treeline, they are often much smaller, dwarfs appearing more as shrubs. The bark is whitish to pale gray, and the needles are actually very thin leaves, tough and bundled into packs of five. It has a fastinating mutualistic relationship with the Clark’s Nutcraker. The bird relies heavily on the pine seeds and the tree is dependent on the bird for seed distribution and set in the barren soil conditions. One writer states that the association is so tight that one would be unlikely to survive without the other.