PNW Pines (Pinus)
Pines About 115 species Native to most of the Northern Hemisphere Evergreen, coniferous Mostly trees, rarely bushes 3-80m tall Tallest is a Ponderosa Pine located in Southern Oregon
Pine Ecology Grow well in acidic soils. Well drained Sandy Soils Can tolerate extreme conditions due to elevation and latitude Bishop Pines need fire to regenerate
Uses Used largely as timber –Furniture, homes Resin is used for turpentine Used as ornamental plants Used for pine nuts
Lodgepole Pine Needles: Two needles per bundle (clustered); 1-3" long; commonly twisted (contorted). Fruit: Small, egg-shaped cones (1-2" long), often with a prickle at the end of each scale. May remain closed on the tree for years. Bark: Thin, dark, and flaky.
Ponderosa Pine Needles: bundles of 3, 5-10 inches long; held for only 2-3 years. Fruit: Egg-shaped cone; 3-5 inches long (much smaller than Jeffrey pine cones); each scale has a straight, stiff prickle that sticks out. Bark: Flakes off in shapes like jigsaw puzzle pieces. Older trees have a distinct yellow or orange color (not red like Jeffrey pine).
Jeffery Pine Needles: bundles of 3, 5-10 inches long; often "bushy" along twig. Last 5-8 years on tree. Fruit: Large, woody cones; 5-12 inches long (much larger than ponderosa pine cones); each scale has a curved (J-shaped) prickle that curves inward. Bark: Flakes off in jigsaw puzzle-like pieces. Older bark is distinctly reddish-brown (not as orange as ponderosa pine)
Western White Pine Needles: Occur in bundles of 5; 2-4 inches long; white lines on 2 sides of each 3-sided needle. Fruit: Woody cones, 5-12 inches long. slender and curved. Cone scales are thin and often curve up on the end. Bark: Dark; broken into small squares or rectangles on older trees (smooth on young trees). Bark often "ringed" where a whorl of branches once grew
White-bark Pine Needles: Occur in bundles of 5; 1-3 inches long; faint, white lines on all surfaces. Fruit: Small, woody cones, 2-3 inches long; nearly round; thick cone scales with no prickles. Bark: Thin, scaly, and grayish throughout its life