Shore Pine

Shore pine is the coastal variety of the same species as lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), but it has evolved dramatically different traits. While inland lodgepole pines are tall, straight, and serotinous, shore pines are twisted, shrubby, and have non-serotinous cones. Same species, completely different expression. The environment determines which strategy emerges.

Coastal environments don't burn the way interior forests do. Without fire selection pressure, shore pines lost serotiny - there's no advantage to waiting for fire that rarely comes. Instead, they developed tolerance for salt spray, wind exposure, and waterlogged soils. The same genetic potential expressed as lodgepole or shore pine depending on context.

The transition between varieties is gradual. As you move inland from the coast, populations become progressively more lodgepole-like. There's no sharp boundary - just a gradient of expression tracking the gradient of environmental conditions. The species is really a single plastic entity capable of expressing multiple strategies.

The business insight is that the same organization can express very different strategies in different environments. What looks like 'company culture' or 'strategic identity' may be environmental response. Shore pine and lodgepole pine are the same species expressing different phenotypes. Companies that look completely different might be the same underlying capabilities expressed in different markets.