Reproductive maturity comes at a relatively old age, about twenty-five years. Unlike most pines, pinyon pine seeds are wingless. P. monophylla seeds are almost one inch long and have a high fat content. It is from these seeds, in Spanish called pinyons, that the tree receives its name. These nutritious seeds, highly sought after by all types of wildlife, were important historically to the Native Americans.
Pinyon pines are the source of the largest wild seed crop in the United States.
Unfortunately for the native animals, the trees do not produce a consistent nut crop, so much of the wildlife depends upon the juniper, which yearly produces seed. Interestingly, some trees are genetically resistant to insect infestation and produce good seed, even in close proximity to an infected tree. These resistant trees have two dramatic effects on community structure. First, and obviously, insects are concentrated on susceptible trees. But in addition to insect numbers, mycorrhizeae numbers are also affected.