Red Pine 



23 



nearly terminal, usually in pairs, short-stalked, broadly oblong, about 8 mm, long, 

 their scales dark purple, 

 long-pointed, reflexed. The 

 cones are horizontal, oval, 

 5 to 6 cm. long, bright red- 

 brown and shining; scales 

 somewhat concave, the apex 

 transversely ridged and 

 much thickened into a stout 

 knob, armed by a short 

 curved priclde, dull and 

 red-brown on the upper and 

 dark puiple or brown on the 

 under side of the unexposed 

 parts; seed about 3 mm. 

 long, rounded below, sUghtly 

 flattened toward the apex; 

 wing many times longer 

 than the seed, broadest near 

 the middle, obhque, 4 to 6 

 mm. wide, thin, light brown. 

 The wood is soft, weak, 

 somewhat brittle and close- 

 grained, Hght red or yellow- 

 ish with very resinous bands and passages; its specific gravity is about 0.50. It 

 is occasionally sawed into lumber, especially in Mexico. 



Fig. 16. Arizona Yellow Pine. 



16. RED PINE Pinus resinosa Solander 



Of the American pines this is the closest related to the common European or 

 Scotch pine, Pinus sylvestris L., so often seen in cultivation in the eastern United 

 States. It is a northern tree, occurring from Nova Scotia to Manitoba southward 

 to the mountains of northern Pennsylvania and central Minnesota, reaching a 

 maximum height of 45 meters, with a trunk diameter of 1.5 m. 



The trunk is tall and straight, its branches stout, spreading, more or less pen- 

 dulous, forming a broad, irregular cone; when ver}' old the lower branches 

 have disappeared and some of the upper ones have enlarged, forming an irregular 

 round open head. The bark is often 3 cm. thick, sHghtly and shallowly fissured 

 into broad, flat ridges covered with loose, hght reddish scales. The twigs are 

 stout, smooth, except for the persistent bases of the bud-scales, purpHsh brown, 

 finally Hght reddish brown; the winter branch-buds arc ovoid, sharp-pointed, 

 about 18 mm. long, their scales loose, thin, pale brown, dry and fringed on the 

 margin. The lea,ves are in sheathed fascicles of 2, dark green and shining. 



