Trees of New York State 87 



PINACEAE 



Pimis resinosa Ait. 



Red Pine, Norway Pine 



Habit — A tree, usually 50-75 fci't in hoight, occasionally 100 foet, with a 

 trunk diameter of 2-3 feet, (^rowu at first broadly pyramidal, -with 

 stout, thick-spreading branches which are more or less pendulous and 

 clothe the bole to the ground, in age forming an open, round-topped head. 



Leaves — ■ Borne in fascicles of 2, needle-shaped, semi-cylindrical, soft and 

 flexible, dark green and shining, 4-6 inches long, falling during the fourth 

 and fifth season. Fascicle-sheaths persistent. 



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

 Staniinate cones in dense clusters at the base of the growth of the season, 

 solitary or in whorls of 2-3 near the top of the growth of the season, 

 subglobose, about ^4 of an inch long, stalked, upright, scarlet at 

 pollination. 



Fruit — An ovate-conical, green cone, 2-2^2 inches long, subsessile, horizontal, 

 attaining full size during the second summer, turning light chestnut- 

 brown and opening in the autumn. Opened cones persist on the branches 

 until the following season. Cone-scales A\-ith slightly thickened and 

 ridged end, unarmed. Seeds dark chestnut -brown, winged, about Vs of 

 an inch long. 



Winter characters — Branchlets stout, roughened by the persistent bases of 

 the leaf-buds, at first orange in color, when older, light reddish brown. 

 Buds V:>-% of an inch long, ovate, acute, with lanceolate, loosely imbri- 

 cated, chestnut-brown scales, white and fringed on the margins. Mature 

 bark light reddish browni, thick, divided by shallow fissures into broad, 

 flat ridges. 



Habitat — Thrives on dry, gravelly ridges and sandy plains where poor soils 

 are found. Eare on low, wet ground. Usually forms open groves of a 

 few acres extent, scattered through forests of other species. 



Range — \ northern species widely distributed in southeastern Canada, 

 Mai}ie, west through the northern states to Minnesota, south through 

 jSTew England and Pennsylvania. Zones C and D. 



Uses — An important timber species. Wood light, hard, close-grained, pale 

 red with thin, yellowish white sapwood. Used for structural timber in 

 bridges, boat construction, piles, etc. Red Pine is a prolific seeder and 

 lends itself to "natural" reforestation. It is of ornamental value. 



