7'rcc.s- of New York Stole 83 



PINACEAE 



Pinus Baiiksiaiui Laiiil). fPimis ilivaricata (Ait.) Du Mont cTc Cours] 



Jack Pine, Gray Pine, Scrub Pine 



Habit — I'sually a small tree 15-40 feet in height, with a trunk diameter of 

 9 to 15 inches and a scrubby, stunted, irregular crown wliich often extends 

 to the ground. At its optimum range it becomes 70 feet in height, with 

 a straight trunk free from branches for twenty or more feet. Gnarly, 

 scraggly specimens common on poor soils. Branches large, spreading, 

 characteristically clothed with short needles and incurved cones. 



Leaves — Borne in fascicles of 2, needle-shaped, semi-cylindrical, stout, stiff, 

 generally curved and twisted, dark green, %-1'^A inches long, falling 

 gradually during the second and third years. Fascicle-sheath short and 

 persistent. 



Flowers — Appearing in May and June, monoecious, borne in cones. Staminate 

 cones in crowded clusters at the base of the growth of the season, about 

 ^/^ of an inch long, oblong, yellow at maturity. Ovulate cones in clusters 

 of 2-4, borne laterally on the shoots of the season (often two clusters to 

 a shoot), subglobose, about ^,4 of an inch long, upright, stalked, dark 

 purple at poULiiation. 



Fruits — An oblong-conical, dull purple or green cone, l%-2 inches long, 

 sessile, erect, and strongly curved, attaining full size the second autumn, 

 turning light yellow and remaining closed for several years. Cones persist 

 on the branches for a decade or more. Cone-scales thickened at the apex, 

 armed \\'ith minute, incurved, often deciduous prickles. Seeds dark 

 bro\\niish black, winged, about % of an inch long. 



Winter characters — Branchlets slender, roughened by the persistent, decur- 

 rent bases of the scale-leaves, at first pale yello^rish green, at length 

 becoming dark purplish brown. Buds Vs-Vi of an inch long, ovate, blunt, 

 Avith ovate-lanceolate, pale chestnut-brown scales with spreading tips. 

 Mature bark dark brown slightly tinged with red, thin, divided irregularly 

 into narrow, rounded ridges, scaly on the surface. 



Habitat — Found on sterile sandy soils and rocky ridges, more rarely on 

 lowlands and boggy plains. Often covers great tracts of barren lands 

 and sand dunes, mingling with other stunted trees. 



Range — Nova Scotia westward to the North West Territory and British 

 Columbia, south to northern New England, New York, Michigan, northern 

 Illinois and central Minnesota. Of largest size in the region north of 

 Lake Superior. Zones C and D. 



Uses — Of little importance as a timber tree. AVood light, soft, weak, close- 

 grained, pale brown to orange in color with a thick Avhite sapwood. Used 

 for pulp in admixture with other woods. Occasionally manufactured into 

 lumber, railroad ties, etc. 



