Important Forest Trees of the United States 



5. Longleaf pine. 6. Slash pine. 



7. Loblolly pine. 8. Pitch pine. 



GG. Leaves needlelike, many in cluster on short spur branches LARCH (or tamarack, 

 Larix). 



3. TAMARACK, Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch (eastern larch, American larch, 

 hackmatack; L. americana Michx.). 



Medium-sized tree of wet soils in northeastern United States, and across Canada to 

 Alaska. Bark reddish brown, scaly. Needles many in cluster on short spur branches (or single 

 on leading twigs), 3-angled, % to 1 inch long, blue green, shedding in fall. Cones upright, 

 $4 inch long. 



Principal uses: Lumber (largely framing for houses), and railroad ties. Also ship 

 knees in shipbuilding. 



BB. Leaves evergreen, on normal twigs. 



D. Leaves needlelike, more than r / 2 inch long (usually shorter in No. 17). 

 E. Needles in clusters of 2 to 5 with a sheath at base PINE (Pinus). 

 F. Needles 5 in cluster WHITE (SOFT) PINES. 



4. EASTERN WHITE PINE, Pinus strobus L. (northern white pine [lumber], white pine, > 

 northern pine, soft pine, Weymouth pine ) . 



Large tree (the largest northeastern conifer) of northeastern United States, adjacent 

 Canada, and Appalachian Mountain region. Bark gray or purplish, deeply fissured into 

 broad ridges. Needles 5 in cluster, slender, 2 I /2 to 5 inches long, blue green. Cones long- 

 stalked, long and narrow, 4 to 8 inches long, yellow brown, with thin, rounded scales. 



Principal uses: Important timber species. Chiefly for boxes, formerly mostly for 

 building construction. Also patterns for castings, millwork, caskets, and many other 

 uses. Shade tree and ornamental. (State tree of Maine and Minnesota.) 



FF. Needles 2 or 3 in a cluster YELLOW (HARD, OR PITCH) PINES. 

 G. Needles 3 in cluster. 

 H. Needles more than 8 inches long. 



5. LONGLEAF PINE, Pinus pttlustris Mill, (southern pine [lumber], longleaf yellow pine, 

 southern yellow pine, pitch pine, hard pine, heart pine; P. australis Michx. f.). 



Large tree of South Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains. Bark orange brown, coarsely 

 scaly. Needles 3 in cluster, slender, very long, 10 to 15 inches long, dark green. Cones 

 large, 5 to 10 inches long, dull brown, prickly. 



Principal uses: A leading world producer of naval stores. Lumber for miscellaneous 

 factory and construction purposes, flooring, railroad-car construction, shipbuilding. 

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