﻿Trees of New York State 83 



PINACEAE 



Pimis B:iiiksianii L;nub. | Pimis ilivaric:it:i (Ait.) Du -Mout de Cours] 



Jack Pine, Gray Pine, Scrub Pine 



Habit — Usually a small tree 15-40 feet in height, with a trimk diameter of 

 9 to 15 inches and a scrubby, stiuited, irregular crown wliich often extends 

 to the ground. At its optimum range it becomes 70 feet in height, -with 

 a straight trunk free from branches for twenty or more feet. Gnarly, 

 scraggly specimens common on poor soils. Branches large, spreading, 

 characteristiealiy clothed with short needles and incuryed cones. 



Leaves — Borne in fascicles of 2, needle-shaped, semi-cylindrical, stout, stiff, 

 generally curyed and twisted, dark green, %-l^ inches long, falling 

 gradually during the second and third years. Fascicle-sheath short and 

 persistent. 



Flowers — Appearing in ]\Iay and June, monoecious, borne in cones. Staminate 

 cones in crowded clusters at the base of the growth of the season, about 

 Yj of an inch long, oblong, yellow at maturity. Oyulate cones in clusters 

 of 2-4, borne laterally on the shoots of the season (often two clusters to 

 a shoot), subglobose, about V^ of an inch long, upright, stalked, dark 

 purple at pollination. 



Fruits — An oblong-conical, dull purple or green cone, l%-2 inches long, 

 sessile, erect, and strongly curyed, attaining full size the second autumn, 

 turning light yellow and remaining closed for several years. Cones persist 

 on the branches for a decade or more. Cone-scales thickened at the apex, 

 armed A\'ith minute, incuryed, often deciduous prickles. Seeds dark 

 bro\\niish black, ■\\-inged, about % of an inch long. 



Winter characters — Branchlets slender, roughened by the persistent, decur- 

 rent bases of the scale-leaves, at first pale yello\\-ish green, at length 

 becoming dark purplish brown. Buds ^^-^,4 of an inch long, ovate, blunt, 

 ■v%'ith ovate-lanceolate, pale chestnut-brown scales ^A-ith spreading ti])S. 

 Mature bark dark brown slightly tinged yv\t\i red, thin, divided irregularly 

 into narrow, rounded ridges, scaly on the surface. 



Habitat — Found on sterile sandy soils and rocky ridges, more rarely on 

 lowlands and boggy^ plains. Often covers great tracts of ban-en lands 

 and sand dunes, mingling with other stunted trees. 



Kange — Xova Scotia westward to the North "West Territory and British 

 Columbia, south to northern Xew England, New York, Michigan, northern 

 Illinois and central Minnesota. Of largest size in the region north of 

 Lake Superior. Zones C and D. 



Uses — Of little importance as a timber tree. "Wood light, soft, weak, close- 

 grained, pale brown to orange in color AA-ith a thick white sapwood. Used 

 for pulp in admixture with other woods. Occasionally manufactured into 

 lumber, railroad ties, etc. 



