374 A HANDBOOK OF CONIFERS 



In well-drained, loamy soil it is of slow and dense growth, forming 

 a bush rather than a tree, and so far has not produced cones. 

 In its native habitats it is usually found on thin rocky soil. 



Jepson, Silva of California, p. 75 (1910) ; Shaw, The Oenus Pinus, p. 42 (1914). 



Pinus Banksiana, Lambert. 

 Jack Pine. 



Pinus divaricata, Dumont de Courset ; P. hudsonica, Poiret ; P. 

 rupestris, Michaux. Banksian Pine ; Black Pine ; Black Jack Pine ; 

 Canada Horn Pine ; Check Pine ; Grey Pine ; Hudson Bay Pine ; Lab- 

 rador Pine ; Scrub Pine ; Sir Joseph Banks' Pine. 



A tree 25-60 ft. high, with a trunk 2-5 ft. in girth, or in 

 favourable positions up to 90 ft. high and 6 ft. in girth ; but 

 sometimes shrubby in habit. Branches on young trees slender 

 with an upward tendency, forming a compact, oval head ; on 

 old trees strong and wide-spreading, with tough and flexible 

 branchlets. Bark reddish brown, with deep fissures forming 

 narrow ridges. Young shoots smooth, without down, pale 

 yellowish green, reddish or brown the second year. Winter buds 

 ^-^ in. long, dark brown, cylindrical, resinous, with closely 

 pressed scales. Leaves in pairs, lasting 2-3 years, ohve green, 

 stiff, curved or sUghtly twisted ; |-1| in. long, margin with minute 

 or rudimentary teeth, apex short-pointed, stomata on each 

 surface ; resin canals marginal ; basal sheath about | in. long at 

 first, often absent on the older leaves. Cones lateral, irregular 

 in outline, ovate-conic, obhque, curved, 1|-2| in. long, ^1 in. 

 wide at the base, often remaining on the trees unopened for many 

 years ; scales on the outer side much larger than those next the 

 stem, up to f in. long and ^ in. wide, exposed part tawny yellow, 

 the apex often of two distinct shades, rhomboidal, spineless : 

 opening irregularly and gradually Uberating the seeds. Seeds 

 triangular, jo—rs in. long, blackish brown, mottled. Wing | in. 

 long. 



P. BanJcsiana is easily identified by its crooked branches, 

 short leaves, and curved or warped cones. 



It is the most northerly of the American species, growing 

 near the Arctic Circle in the Valley of the Mackenzie River, and 

 is common throughout the Canadian forest belt. 



Wood variable in texture and weight, sometimes soft and 

 of httle use, at others approaching the wood of P. resinosa in 

 hardness. It is usually brittle and weak, and decays rapidly 

 when in contact with the soil. Heartwood yellowish brown, 

 sapwood creamy white. The timber is used for rough construc- 

 tion, log huts, etc., also for railway sleepers when creosoted, and 

 for paper pulp and fuel. The best quahties are sometimes sawn 

 into lumber, and it has been marketed mixed with wood of P. 



