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 % inch long, surrounded by 6-8 involucral bracts; 
the pistillate cylindrical, about 4 inch long, 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, %4 
inch long, with wings 1 inch long. 
WINTER-BUDS.—Oblong-ovoid, sharp-pointed, yellow- 
brown, %4-% 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. 
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