72 



RED PINE. 

 Pinus resinosa, Aiton. 



FORM — Usually from 50-75 ft. in height i\itU a diameter of 2-3 ft. but reaching a maximum 

 height of 140 ft. with a diameter of 4i ft. In closed stands trunk is straight, tall, slightly- 

 tapering, and free from lateral branches for a considerable distance from the base while in 

 open stands the lateral branches extend nearly to the base and the trunk Is often branched 

 and strongly-tapered. Crown usually broad, irregular, pyramidal, with dark green foliage 

 tufted at the ends of the branches. See Fig. 42. 



BARK — Reddish-brown, J-IJ inches thick, divided by shallow furrows into broad flat ridges 

 which peel oft in thin scales. See Fig. 45. 



TWIGS — Stout, slightly roughened by persistent bases of bud-scales; at first yellowish-brown, 

 later reddish-brown. 



BUDS — Ovoid, pointed, i-3 of an inch long. Bud-scales brown, thin, loose, and fringed on the 

 margin. 



LEAVES — In sheathed clusters of 2, 4-C inches long, dark green, rather slender and flexible, 

 sharp, persisting for 3-5 years. 



FLOWERS — Appear in May. Staminate flowers about 4 of an inch long, occur in dense 

 clusters at base of growth of season, have dark purple anthers. Pistillate flowers subterminal, 

 2 to 3 in a whorl, short-stalked, scarlet. 



FRUIT — A cone about 2 inches long, nearly sessile, light brown, ovate-conical when closed 

 and somewhat spherical when open, persisting until the following year. Cone-scales chestnut- 

 brown with ends slightly thickened and transversely ridged but not armed with spines or 

 prickles. 



WOOD — Non-porous; resinous, hard, pale red, with thin light sap wood, and very conspicuous 

 medullary rays. Weighs 30.25 lbs per cubic foot. Green wood is very heavy and will sink. 

 Used for heavy construction, piles, masts, in general for nearly all other purposes for which 

 White Pine is used. 



DISTINGUISHING CHARACTERISTICS— The Red Pine, also known as Norway Pine, is es- 

 sentially a northern tree and is the only native Pine of Pennsylvania with needles 4-6 inches 

 long, sheathed in clusters of 2. Its cones are about 2 inches long, subterminal, and bear scales 

 which are not armed with spines or prickles. The needles are borne in tnfts at the ends of 

 branches. 



RANGE — Distinctly a northern tree occurring from Nova Scotia and Quebec on the north to 

 Pennsylvania on the south, and west to Minnesota. 



DISTRIBUTION IN PENNSYLVANIA— Found only in the northern part of the State. Its 

 southern limit in the central part of the State is about at Williamsport. In the eastern and 

 western parts it does not come so far south as in the central part. 



HABITAT — Usually found on dry gravelly ridges, mountain-tops, and dry sandy plains. Rare 

 on flat lands with wet clay soil. 



IMPORTANCE OF THE SPECIES — The Red Pine is a valuable timber tree usually mixed with 

 other species of trees but occassionally found in dense pure stands in Minnesota. This tree Is 

 remarkably well adapted to natural seed regeneration since it produces a great quantity of 

 light, large -winged seeds which are readily disseminated by the wind and does not shed an 

 its seeds at the same time. It readily adapts itself to variable conditions, is attractive 

 ornamentally, and should be regenerated naturally where seed trees are at hand and arti- 

 ficially upon such areas where other more valuable trees will not grow. 



