PINACEAE 

 White Pine 



Pinus strobus L. 



HABIT. A large tree 60-80 feet high, with a trunk diameter 

 of 2-4 feet; forming a wide, pyramidal crown. Formerly trees 

 100-150 feet in height and 5-7 feet in trunk diameter were not 

 exceptional. 



LEAVES. In clusters of five; 3-5 inches long; slender, 

 straight, needle-shaped, 3-sided, mucronate; pale blue-green. 

 Persistent about 2 years. 



FLOWERS. June ; monoecious ; the staminate oval, light 

 brown, about Ys inch long, surrounded by 6-8 involucral bracts; 

 the pistillate cylindrical, about J4 ' ncn l n g> pinkish purple, long- 

 stalked. 



FRUIT. Autumn of second season, falling during the 

 winter and succeeding spring; pendent, short-stalked, narrow- 

 cylindrical, often curved, greenish cones, 4-10 inches long; scales 

 rather loose, slightly thickened at the apex; seeds red-brown, J^ 

 inch long, with wings I inch long. 



WINTER-BUDS. Oblong-ovoid, sharp-pointed, yellow- 

 brown, J4-J/2 inch long. 



BARK. Twigs at first rusty-tomentose, later smooth and 

 light brown, finally thin, smooth, greenish ; thick, dark gray on 

 the trunk, shallowly fissured into broad, scaly ridges. 



WOOD. Light, soft, weak, compact, straight-grained, easily 

 worked, light brown, with thin, whitish sapwood. 



DISTRIBUTION. Upper Peninsula and Lower Peninsula 

 north of Allegan, Eaton and St. Clair Counties. Often planted 

 as an ornamental tree farther south. 



HABITAT. Prefers a light, fertile loam; sandy soils of 

 granite origin. 



NOTES. Rapid of growth. Small seedlings easily trans- 

 planted. Formerly very abundant, but rapidly nearing extinction 

 through destructive lumbering. 



