Pinaceae (pine family)

Pinaceae (Pine family)

http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus/factsheet.cfm?ID=119

• balsam fir Pinaceae Abies balsamea • Leaf: Flattened needles, 3/4 inch long, blunt or notched at end, may be shorter

and sharper pointed on upper branches, shiny dark green above and silvery-blue below. Flower: Monoecious; males occur on undersides of leaf axils, purple to yellow-brown; females occur in upper crown, are purple and inconspicuous. Fruit: Resinous cones are upright, 2 to 3 1/2 inches long, oblong to cylindrical, green with purple tinge, with bracts shorter than the scales; scales are deciduous with seed dispersal in late summer. Twig: Yellow-green, later turning gray; buds are reddish brown and resin covered; leaf scars are flat and rounded. Bark: Shiny silvery gray-brown, smooth except for numerous, raised resin blisters; largest stems may become a bit scaly. Form: Balsam fir is a small to medium sized tree reaching 80 feet tall with a very narrow, spire-like crown.

• 277E• Gymnosperm

http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/data_results_with_common.cfm?family=Pinaceae

http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/data_results_with_common.cfm?genus=Abies


• white fir Pinaceae Abies concolor • Leaf: Flattened needles, about 3/4 to 2 inches long, dark yellow-green above with 2

white bands below; apex rounded or notched; spirally arranged but flattened into 2 ranks especially lower in the crown; vary in length with lengths alternating on the twig; grow parallel to one another but perpendicular to the twig. Flower: Monoecious; male cones yellowish and borne beneath the leaves; female cones yellowish-green to green and borne upright near the top of the crown. Fruit: Cones are 2 to 4 inches long, barrel-shaped, and borne upright on the twig; cone scales are deciduous, falling from the cone as seeds ripen; green to purplish green when mature. Twig: Stiff, olive to reddish brown, and covered with round, flat leaf scars when needles fall. Buds are large, rounded, and covered with pitch; terminal buds usually occur in clusters of three or more. Bark: When young grayish green and covered with resin blisters; with age becoming 2 to 3 inches thick, grayish brown and mottled, often furrowed with flattened ridges; inner bark is purple-red. Form: A large evergreen, commonly 150 to 200 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet in diameter. It develops a long narrow crown of dense foliage, often rounded or flat-topped at maturity.

• 252W• Gymnosperm




• grand fir Pinaceae Abies grandis • Leaf: Flattened needles, about 3/4 to 2 inches long, dark yellow-green above with

2 white bands below; apex rounded or notched; spirally arranged but flattened into 2 ranks especially lower in the crown; vary in length with lengths alternating on the twig; grow parallel to one another but perpendicular to the twig. Flower: Monoecious; male cones yellowish and borne beneath the leaves; female cones yellowish-green to green and borne upright near the top of the crown. Fruit: Cones are 2 to 4 inches long, barrel-shaped, and borne upright on the twig; cone scales are deciduous, falling from the cone as seeds ripen; green to purplish green when mature. Twig: Stiff, olive to reddish brown, and covered with round, flat leaf scars when needles fall. Buds are large, rounded, and covered with pitch; terminal buds usually occur in clusters of three or more. Bark: When young grayish green and covered with resin blisters; with age becoming 2 to 3 inches thick, grayish brown and mottled, often furrowed with flattened ridges; inner bark is purple-red. Form: A large evergreen, commonly 150 to 200 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet in diameter. It develops a long narrow crown of dense foliage, often rounded or flat-topped at maturity.





• subalpine fir Pinaceae Abies lasiocarpa • Leaf: Flattened needles, usually about 1 inch long, thickened in the middle, bluish

white bloom on all surfaces; tips mostly rounded, but may be notched (or pointed near top of tree); spirally arranged but uniformly upswept; commonly have a manicured appearance. Flower: Monoecious; male cones bluish and borne beneath the leaves; female cones purple and borne upright near the top of the crown. Fruit: Cones are 2 to 4 inches long, cylindrical, slender, and borne upright on the twig (frequently in clusters); cone scales are deciduous, falling from the cone as seeds ripen; purple when mature. Twig: Stiff, orange-brown, and covered with round, flat leaf scars when needles fall. Buds are small, rounded, and covered with pitch; terminal buds usually occur in clusters of three or more. Bark: When young, grayish green and covered with resin blisters; later turning gray to white, unbroken except near base of large trees. Resin pockets scattered throughout inner bark. Form: When mature 40 to 100 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet in diameter. Very narrow crown of dense foliage; often spire-like with branches to the ground.





• tamarack (eastern larch) Pinaceae Larix laricina • Leaf: Deciduous, flat needle, light green, appear in spirals on spur shoots after first

year, 3/4 to 1 inch long, turn yellow in the fall. Flower: Monoecious; males yellowish, small and round in clusters near branch tips; females reddish-brown, numerous scales, egg-shaped. Fruit: Small, 3/4 to 1 inch, light brown, egg-shaped cone; persist throughout the winter. Twig: Slender, light brown, numerous short, spur branches. Bark: Rough, small scaly patches, grayish brown to reddish brown. Form: Open, narrow, conical crown; trunk straight, grows to 80 feet; 1 1/2 feet in diameter.

• 281E & 259W• Gymnosperm


http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/data_results_with_common.cfm?genus=Larix


• western larch Pinaceae Larix occidentalis • Leaf: Deciduous, yellow-green in spring turning golden yellow in fall; borne singly

on current year's twigs, but clustered on spur shoots on older twigs; 1 to 1 3/4 inches long, linear, and flattened to triangular in cross-section. Flower: Monoecious; male cones are round to oblong and yellow to yellow-green in color; female cones are small, erect, and bright red when young. Fruit: Small (1 to 1 1/2 inches long), egg-shaped cones with thin, woody scales with finely toothed apexes. Bracts have spines that are longer than the scales (similar to Douglas-fir, but smaller). Twig: Twigs are yellowish brown and covered by short, thick spur shoots; may be finely hairy the first year. Bark: Young bark is thin, scaly, and gray-brown, later becoming 3 to 6 inches thick with deep furrows and flattened ridges, yellow to reddish brown. Form: A large deciduous conifer growing 100 to 180 feet tall and 3 to 4 feet in diameter, very straight bole topped with a lacy, open crown.



http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/data_results_with_common.cfm?genus=Larix


• Engelmann spruce Pinaceae Picea engelmannii • Leaf: Evergreen, four-sided needles (1 inch long), which are sharp, flexible and

bluish green. Each needle borne on a raised, woody peg (sterigma). Flower: Monoecious; male flowers cylindrical, purple and hanging in lower crown, females cylindrical, red and upright in the upper crown. Fruit: Cone, 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, thin, flexible scales are somewhat wavy, light brown. Twig: Brown, with fine hairs present. Bud scales tighter than some other spruces. Bark: Thin, reddish brown, sometimes with purple tint, becoming very scaly and loose. Form: Medium to large tree (80 to 100 feet tall), straight trunk, narrow crown. At the highest elevations it will appear very windswept.



http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/data_results_with_common.cfm?genus=Picea


• white spruce Pinaceae Picea glauca • Leaf: Evergreen needles, stiff, 1/3 to 3/4 inch long, square in cross section, needle

tips are pointed but not sharp, when crushed a pungent odor is apparent (some say similar to cat urine), green to gray-green. Each needle borne on a raised, woody peg (sterigma). Flower: Monoecious; males emerge reddish but turn yellow when shedding pollen; females purple. Fruit: Cones are 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches long, cigar shaped, light brown in color, scales are rounded with entire margins, mature in late summer. Twig: Slender, light brown or pale, sometimes glaucous, hairless. Needles borne on woody pegs. Bark: Thin, gray-brown in color, smooth, later flaky or scaly. Form: Conical, medium sized trees reaching up to 90 feet tall.





• black spruce Pinaceae Picea mariana• Leaf: Evergreen, four-sided needles, stiff, 1/4 to 1/2 inch long, light blue-green in

color, somewhat blunt pointed tips, light blue-green to gray. Flower: Monoecious; males red, turning yellow to light brown; females purple, upright, and in the upper crowns. Fruit: Ovoid cones are the smallest of the spruces, 1 inch long, scale margins are rounded and finely erose; maturing in late summer with seeds disseminating in early fall. Twig: Slender, brown and pubescent; needles are borne on woody pegs; buds are small, gray-brown with loose scales. Bark: Thin, gray-brown or red-brown in color, broken into irregular, close scales. Form: Small to medium sized trees up to 70 feet tall with a very narrow conical or spire-like crown and a poorly pruned trunk.





• blue spruce Pinaceae Picea pungens• Leaf: Evergreen needles, 3/4 to 1 1/4 inches long, stiff and very sharp (spine-like),

displayed nearly straight out from twig, silvery blue to dark green. Strong acidic taste. Each needle borne on a raised, woody peg (sterigma). Flower: Monoecious; males emerge reddish purple and ripen to yellow-brown, scattered throughout trees; females purple, upright, in tops of the trees. Fruit: Cones are 2 to 4 inches long, cylindrical, light brown in color, scales are flexible, pointed with jagged erose margins, mature in the fall. Twig: Stout (when compared to other spruces), hairless, tan; needles are borne on woody pegs; bud scales brown and noticeably reflexed. Bark: Gray to red-brown, young trees with small, thin scales; older trees still scaly but with shallow furrows. Form: A medium to large tree with pyramidal form reaching up to 80 feet tall. Branches appear layered, especially with age.





• red spruce Pinaceae Picea rubens• Leaf: Evergreen needles, 1/2 to 5/8 inch long, sharply pointed and four-sided,

tending to curve upwards, shiny yellow-green. Each needle borne on a raised, woody peg (sterigma). Flower: Monoecious; males cylindrical reddish but turning yellow-brown; females purplish green. Fruit: Chestnut brown ovoid cone, 1 to 1 1/2 inches long, cone scale margins entire; seed disseminated in the fall and cones tend to drop their first winter. Twig: Orangish brown, finely hairy (may need a hand lens); as with all spruces, needleless twigs covered by short sterigmata (short pegs); buds orange-brown, small with loose scales. Bark: Grayish brown on surface, more reddish brown beneath with irregular, fine flaky patches. Form: Upright and straight, with a narrow crown; reaching a height of 60 to 80 feet and a diameter of 1 to 2 feet.





• Sitka spruce Pinaceae Picea sitchensis • Leaf: Evergreen, four-sided needles, spirally arranged; 1 inch long with a very sharp

tip, needles point perpendicular and forward on the twig; yellow-green above with white bloom below. Each needle borne on a raised, woody peg (sterigma). Flower: Monoecious; male cones erect or pendent; female cones green to purple and borne near the top of the tree. Fruit: Oblong cones, 1 1/2 to 3 1/2 inches long with thin, woody, spirally arranged scales that have very thin, notched edges and are tan when mature; cones ripen in one growing season and occur near the top of the tree. Twig: Current year's twigs are moderately stout and yellow-brown to orange-brown. All twigs are covered with numerous distinct woody pegs (sterigmata). Bark: On young trees, bark is thin and scaly, usually gray. On mature trees it's usually less than 1 inch thick; gray to brown and scaly. Form: Sitka spruce is the largest of all spruces. It commonly is 125 to 180 feet tall and 3 to 5 feet in diameter, but can be much larger. Crown is open with somewhat pendulous branches; branches commonly reach the ground and dead branches are retained for a long time. Base of trees are commonly swollen and buttressed.





• whitebark pine Pinaceae Pinus albicaulis • Leaf: Evergreen needles, short (1 to 3 inches long), rigid, fascicles of 5, clustered

near the ends of branches, green to yellow-green, with indistinct lengthwise rows of stomatal bloom. Remain on tree for 4 to 8 years. Flower: Monoecious; male cones are pinkish, turning yellow-brown in tight clusters; female cones are deep red to purple. Fruit: Small woody cone (1 1/2 to 3 inches long), almost round; imbricate scales are thick, blunt, and pointed but unarmed; serotinous (remain on the tree for several years with ripened seeds inside); seeds are large and usually wingless. Twig: Stout but very flexible, silvery-white to gray. Bark: When young smooth and gray-white, later darkening and becoming scaly, rarely more than 1/2 inch thick; inner bark is reddish brown. Form: Typically small (20 to 50 feet tall and 1 to 2 feet in diameter) and contorted by the wind and harsh growing conditions.



http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/data_results_with_common.cfm?genus=Pinus


• Rocky Mountain bristlecone pine Pinaceae Pinus aristata • Leaf: Evergreen needles, short (1 to 1 1/2 inches long), curved, fascicles of 5, dark

green but usually covered with white dots of dried resin. Remain on tree for 10-17 years, giving a bushy appearance that resembles a fox's tail. Flower: Monoecious; male cones small, dark orange and often clustered near the ends of branches; female cones occur singly or in pairs near the ends of branches. Fruit: Moderate sized woody cone (about 3 inches long) with a short stalk; imbricate scales are thickened and tipped with a long bristle, giving rise to its common name; seeds are winged. Twig: Orange-brown when young but darkening with age. Bark: Young bark is thin, smooth, and gray-white later becoming furrowed and reddish brown. Old trees on harsh, windy sites may have only a few strands of bark remaining in crevices where it is protected from sandblasting winds. Form: Typically small (may reach 50 feet) and contorted by the wind and harsh growing conditions, grows very slowly.





• knobcone pine Pinaceae Pinus attenuata• Leaf: Evergreen needles, commonly 4 to 5 inches (but may be 3 to 7), borne in

bundles of 3; yellow-green, slender, stiff, and sometimes twisted; persist for 4 to 5 years. Flower: Monoecious; male cones are brownish purple in tight clusters; females small, reddish purple. Fruit: Large woody cones (4 to 6 inches long); egg-shaped to conical but with a distinctly asymmetrical base, large swollen knobs on one side of the base; often grow in dense clusters of 3 to 6 and remain on the tree unopened until a fire occurs; sometimes completely overgrown by the branches and trunk; mature by late summer of their second year. Twig: Moderately stout, reddish brown and often resinous. Bark: Young bark is thin, flaky, and is gray-brown with an orange or red tinge; older bark is furrowed with flattened ridges and somewhat scaly; gray-red-brown. Form: A small conifer (most often less than 50 feet tall and 12 inches in diameter); often with poor form and multiple, twisted tops.





• jack pine Pinaceae Pinus banksiana • Leaf: Evergreen needles, 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches long, two twisted, divergent needles

per fascicle, fascicle sheath is present but short; yellow-green in color. Flower: Monoecious; males cylindrical, yellow-green, in clusters at twig tips; females oval, reddish. Fruit: Serotinous, persistenting on the tree for several years; 1 1/2 to 2 inches long, curved, light brown but graying with age; apophysis round and umbo armed with a small prickle. Twig: Yellow to greenish brown when young, turning gray-brown with age, very resinous, narrowly ovoid buds. Bark: At first dark and scaly, the bark later develops scaly ridges. Form: A small to medium sized tree up to 80 feet tall, with a small, irregular crown. Dead branches self-prune poorly. Cones are retained for several years, resulting in a coarse appearance.





• lodgepole pine Pinaceae Pinus contorta • Leaf: Evergreen needles, 1 1/2 to 3 inches long in fascicles of two, twisted, fascicle

sheath present; yellow-green to green. Flower: Monoecious; males are yellow, cylindrical and clustered at branch tips; females reddish purple at branch tips in the upper crown. Fruit: Woody cone, 1 to 2 inches long, often asymmetrical and becoming lumpy near the base, apophysis armed with a short spine; light brown to brown; may remain closed for several years. Twig: Orange-brown, turning darker with age, needles are persistent for several years; buds are narrowly ovoid, reddish brown and resinous. Bark: Thin, typically grayish brown but can be very dark with many small close scales. Form: Tall, slender trees with a narrow loose crown reaching up to 80 feet tall; some varieties which grow along the Pacific Coast are very short and scrubby.





• shortleaf pine Pinaceae Pinus echinata • Leaf: Evergreen needles, 3 to 5 inches long, two or three (on the same branch),

slender and flexible needles per fascicle, dark yellow-green in color, fascicle sheath is persistent. Flower: Monoecious; males cylindrical, red to yellow, in clumps at ends of twigs; females light green to red and armed. Fruit: Egg-shaped cone, 2 inches long, somewhat persistent; red to brown in color, umbo is armed with a small prickle, maturing in fall; scales stay relatively flexible. Twig: Green and purple when young, later turning red-brown. Bark: Scaly and dark on young trees, eventually developing flat, scaly plates; very small (pencil point) resin pockets or "Volcanoes" may be apparent. Form: A medium to large tree with a straight, well pruned trunk, able to reach over 100 feet tall; typically has a small, open, pyramidal crown.





• pinyon pine Pinaceae Pinus edulis • Leaf: Evergreen needles, 1 to 2 inches long, usually two per fascicle, coarse, stiff,

thick, curved, blue-green or yellow-green. Flower: Monoecious; males red, cylindrical, in clusters near ends of branches; females purplish at branch tips. Fruit: Cones are ovoid, 2 inches long, short stalked, brown in color, with very thick cone scales; each scale contains two very large, edible "pine nuts"; maturing in the fall. Twig: Stout and orange-brown, somewhat scraggly. Bark: Scaly or with small plates, red-brown to gray. Form: A small, spreading almost bushy tree with an irregular, rounded crown. reaching up to 45 feet tall.





• limber pine Pinaceae Pinus flexilis• Leaf: Evergreen needles, 2 1/2 to 4 inches long, fascicles of 5, dark green and rigid

with lengthwise rows of stomatal bloom. Remain on tree for 5 to 6 years. Flower: Monoecious; male cones are small and reddish; female cones are bright reddish-purple. Fruit: Moderate sized woody cone (3 to 6 inches long) with a short stalk. Imbricate scales are thick, blunt, slightly reflexed, and unarmed. Cones turn from green to brown as they ripen and scales open to release their seeds (unlike whitebark pine). Seeds are large and usually wingless. Twig: Stout but very flexible (can be tied into knots), silvery-white to gray, droop with age, but tips often turn up. Bark: Initially thin, smooth and gray-white; later it darkens to brown or black with deep fissures and square plates. Form: Typically small (30 to 50 feet tall and 1 to 3 feet in diameter) and contorted by the wind and harsh growing conditions. Often has multiple, plume-like tops with drooping branches.





• sugar pine Pinaceae Pinus lambertiana • Leaf: Evergreen needles, 2 to 4 inches long, fascicles of 5, blue-green with white

lines of stomatal bloom on all needle surfaces, persist 2 to 3 years, tend to droop, fascicle sheath is deciduous, apex pointed. Flower: Monoecious; male cones are small, yellow, and clustered near the ends of branches; female cones are small, pale green, round, and clustered near the tips of branches in the upper part of the crown. Fruit: Large cylindrical woody cones, 10 to 18 inches long (sometimes longer); yellowish brown when mature; scales thickened but unarmed; long, thick stalk. Twig: Moderately stout and grayish brown. Bark: Young bark is thin and grayish green later becoming up to 3 inches thick, reddish brown, with narrow, broken, scaly ridges separated by deep furrows. Form: Tall and straight evergreen conifer growing to 200 feet tall and 7 feet in diameter with an open crown and long horizontal branches.




http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/syllabus2/factsheet.cfm?ID=667

• singleleaf pinyon Pinaceae Pinus monophylla • Leaf: Evergreen needles, single (rarely 2 or 3 in a fascicle), stout, slightly curved

and sharp-tipped, 1 to 2 inches long, green to gray-green, numerous white stomatal bands; fascicle sheath sheds after first year. Flower: Monoecious; males pale yellow, cylindrical in tight clusters at ends of branches; females purplish, in small group at branch tips. Fruit: Woody, broadly ovoid cone, reddish brown, short stalked, 2 to 3 inches long, thick, broad, large scales deeply recessed where they held two large wingless seeds, remain on tree for many years. Twig: Moderate to stout, light reddish brown; buds pointed, ovoid, light reddish brown. Bark: Initially smooth and light gray, developing reddish brown furrows and dark gray scaly ridges. Form: A small tree to 40 feet, often with several twisted trunks, branching low and a broad crown.





• western white pine Pinaceae Pinus monticola • Leaf: Acicular, 2 to 4 inches long, fascicles of 5, blue-green with white lines of

stomatal bloom on two of the three needle surfaces, persist 3 to 4 years, bundle sheath is deciduous, apex blunt. Flower: Monoecious; male cones are small, yellow, and clustered near the tips of branches; female cones are larger, almost round, greenish pink in color, and clustered near the tips of branches in the upper parts of the crown. Fruit: Large cylindrical woody cones, 5 to 12 inches long, thin and curved. Brown when mature; scales thin and unarmed, typically tipped with globs of white resin; very short stalk. Twig: Moderately stout and grayish brown. Bark: Initially thin and grayish green later becoming up to 2 inches thick, gray to purplish gray and broken into square or rectangular blocks, not ridged and furrowed. Dark bands commonly encircle the tree where whorls of branches have fallen off. Form: Tall, straight, evergreen conifer growing to 180 feet tall and 4 feet in diameter with an open crown, long up-raised branches near the top (horizontal lower down); bole commonly free of branches for half its length.





• longleaf pine Pinaceae Pinus palustris • Leaf: Evergreen needles, very long and feathery (8 to 18 inches long), with three

dark green needles per fascicle; tend to be tufted at branch tips. Flower: Monoecious; males yellow-red, long, in clusters; females oval, purple. Fruit: Very large (largest cone in the Eastern U. S. --6 to 10 inches long), ovoid to conical in shape, sessile, red-brown, umbo is armed with a curved prickle, maturing in the fall. Twig: Very stout, gray-brown; buds large, ovoid, silvery-white. Bark: Quite scaly, orange-brown to gray, eventually developing flat plates. Form: A medium sized to large tree capable of reaching over 100 feet in height, with a straight trunk, coarse branches and tufted needles at ends of branches.





• ponderosa pine Pinaceae Pinus ponderosa • Leaf: Evergreen, 5 to 10 inches long, with three (sometimes 2) tough, yellow-green

needles per fascicle. When crushed, needles have a turpentine odor sometimes reminiscent of citrus. Flower: Monoecious; males yellow-red, cylindrical, in clusters near ends of branches; females reddish at branch tips. Fruit: Cones are ovoid, 3 to 6 inches long, sessile, red-brown in color, armed with a slender prickle, maturing late summer. Twig: Stout, orange in color, turning black. Buds often covered with resin. Bark: Very dark (nearly black) on young trees, developing cinnamon colored plates and deep furrows. Form: A large tree with an irregular crown, eventually developing a flat top or short conical crown. Ponderosa pine self-prunes well and develops a clear bole.





• red pine Pinaceae Pinus resinosa • Leaf: Evergreen needles, 4 to 6 inches long, with two needles per fascicle that snap

cleanly when bent, dark green. Flower: Monoecious; males almost round, light red, in large clusters at branch tips; females a round, short cone, reddish brown. Fruit: Cones are ovoid, 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches long, shiny chestnut brown, umbo is not armed, maturing in early summer. Twig: Medium textured, orange-brown in color with narrow, ovoid orange-brown buds. Bark: On young trees, red-brown or pink to gray, flaky; eventually becoming plated, the plates have scaly surfaces with a reddish tinge. Form: A medium size tree reaching up to 90 feet tall, with oval crown and a clear bole. Foliage is tufted, resembling a fox tail.





• pitch pine Pinaceae Pinus rigida • Leaf: Evergreen needles, 2 1/2 to 5 inches long, with three twisted needles per

fascicle, yellow-green to green. Flower: Monoecious; males cylindrical, red to yellow, in large clusters at twig tips; females yellow to red, with small, curved scales. Fruit: Cones are ovoid, 2 to 4 inches long, light brown in color; umbo is armed with a short, stout prickle; cones are often persistent for many years; maturing in fall. Twig: Orange-brown and moderately stout; buds narrowly ovoid, light gray-brown. Bark: Dark and scaly when young, developing red-brown or yellow-brown thick flat plates with deep furrows; sprouts of needles may be present. Form: Extremely variable; short and poorly formed on poor sites, but can be a straight, medium sized tree reachin 80 feet tall on better sites; epicormic sprouting is common.





• eastern white pine Pinaceae Pinus strobus • Leaf: Evergreen needles, 3 to 5 inches long, with five, slender, flexible needles per

fascicle; fascicle sheath deciduous, needles appear blue-green because of 3 or more glaucous lines of stomata. Flower: Monoecious; males cylindrical, yellow, in clusters near branch tips; females light green, tinged in red, at ends of branches. Fruit: Cones are 4 to 7 inches long, cylindrical, with thick, rounded cone scales, very resinous, borne on a long stalk and maturing in late summer. Twig: Slender, gray-green to orange-brown in color; buds long, ovoid, reddish brown. Bark: On young trees, thin, smooth and gray-green with some lighter splotty patches; later becoming thick, reddish brown to gray-brown with prominent finely scaly, rounded, long ridges and darker furrows. Form: A large tree with a very straight trunk often reaching well over 100 feet in height. The crown is conical when young, later developing wispy, horizontal, upturning branches.





• loblolly pine Pinaceae Pinus taeda • Leaf: Evergreen needles, 6 to 9 inches long, with (usually) three yellow-green

needles per fascicle. Flower: Monoecious; males long cylindrical, red to yellow, in clusters at branch tips; females yellow to purple. Fruit: Ovoid to cylindrical, 3 to 6 inch red-brown cones; umbo is armed with a short spine, maturing in early fall. Twig: Orange-brown in color, fine to moderately stout; buds are narrowly ovoid, light reddish brown. Bark: Initially red- to gray-brown and scaly; older trees are ridged and furrowed, with somewhat rounded scaly plates; very old trees have red-brown, flat scaly plates. Form: A medium to large tree can reach well over 100 feet tall, self-prunes well and develops a fairly straight trunk and an oval, somewhat open crown.





• Virginia pine Pinaceae Pinus virginiana • Leaf: Evergreen needles, 1 1/2 to 3 inches long, with 2 yellow-green, twisted,

somewhat divergent needles per fascicle. Flower: Monoecious; males cylindrical, yellow, near branch tip; females yellow to red, curved prickle present. Fruit: Conical to ovoid cones are 1 1/2 to 2 1/2 inches long, sessile and persistent, with red-brown scales and an umbo armed with a sharp, needle-like prickle, maturing in the fall. Twig: Slender, green changing to purple-green with a glaucous bloom; buds gray-brown, narrowly ovoid. Bark: Orange-brown and scaly on young trees; older stems develop thin, small, scaly plates, cinnamon colored patches often on upper parts of trunk. Form: A small to medium sized tree reaching up to 70 feet tall, eventually develops a flat top sparse crown; dead, gray (sharply angled upwards) branch stubs are almost always present along the trunk.





• Douglas-fir Pinaceae Pseudotsuga menziesii • Leaf: Evergreen, single needles that lack woody pegs or suction cups, yellow-green

to blue-green, 3/4 to 1 1/4 inches long, tips blunt or slightly rounded, very fragrant. Flower: Monoecious; males oblong, red to yellow, near branch tips; females reddish, with long bracts, occurring near branch tips. Fruit: Very distinctive, 3 to 4 inches long with rounded scales. Three-lobed bracts extend beyond the cone scales and resemble mouse posteriors. Maturing in late summer. Twig: Slender and red-brown, with long, sharp, pointed, red-brown buds. Bark: Smooth and gray on young stems, becoming thickened, red-brown with ridges and deep furrows. Form: A pyramidal crown that is somewhat open and self-prunes poorly. Stems are characteristically straight.



http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/data_results_with_common.cfm?genus=Pseudotsuga


• eastern hemlock Pinaceae Tsuga canadensis • Leaf: Evergreen, flat, single needles, 1/2 inch long, tapering to a dull point,

primarily two-ranked, shiny dark green above, 2 lines of white stomata below. Flower: Monoecious; males yellow, small, round; females light green at branch tips. Fruit: Ovoid light brown cone, 3/4 inch long with rounded, entire scales, maturing in early fall. Twig: Slender, gray-brown in color; buds are very small. Bark: Initially gray-brown and smooth then turning scaly; older trees are red-brown with wide ridges and furrows; when cut or broken, purple streaks are obvious. Form: A medium sized tree with a dense, conical crown, fine branches and a drooping terminal shoot reaching up to 80 feet tall, typically a poor natural pruner.



http://dendro.cnre.vt.edu/dendrology/data_results_with_common.cfm?genus=Tsuga


• western hemlock Pinaceae Tsuga heterophylla • Leaf: Evergreen, flattened, single needles, spirally arranged (but somewhat 2-

ranked); short (1/4 to 3/4 inch long), rounded tips, short but distinct petioles, two distinctly different sizes that alternate on the twig, yellow-green to green above with two white bands below. Flower: Monoecious; male cones are tiny, yellow, and occur axillary on previous year's growth; female cones are tiny, purple, and terminal. Fruit: Small, woody, egg-shaped cones (about 1 inch long) with numerous thin, imbricate scales; pendent, sessile, and terminal; reddish brown; mature in one season, abundant. Twig: Slender, flexible, and minutely pubescent, roughened by diagonally-raised and rounded leaf scars. Bark: Young bark is thin, superficially scaly, and brown to black; on mature trees bark is thin (about 1 inch) with flattened ridges; inner bark is dark red streaked with purple. Form: A large evergreen conifer that reaches 200 feet tall and 4 feet in diameter, mature trees have a pyramidal crown and lacy foliage that droops at the terminal ends.





• mountain hemlock Pinaceae Tsuga mertensiana • Leaf: Evergreen, flattened, single needles, spirally arranged (never 2-ranked); short

(1/2 to 3/4 inch long) and thickened in cross section, uniform in color on all sides ranging from dark green to blue-green, rounded apexes, short but distinct petioles. Lateral branches are often very short, giving the appearance of star-shaped clusters of foliage. Flower: Monoecious; male cones are tiny, yellow, and occur axillary on previous year's growth; female cones are tiny, purple, and terminal. Fruit: Small woody cylindrical cones (1 to 3 inches long) with numerous thin, imbricate scales; pendent, sessile, and terminal; reddish brown; mature in one season. Twig: Slender to moderately stout, and minutely pubescent, roughened by diagonally-raised and rounded leaf scars; main branches contain numerous short lateral branches. Bark: Young bark is thin, superficially scaly, and brown to black; on mature trees, bark is thin (1 to 2 inches) with narrow rounded ridges, reddish brown in color. Form: A small, high elevation, evergreen conifer that grows 60 to 100 feet tall and 2 to 3 feet in diameter. Mature trees have a pyramidal crown with dense, tight foliage.




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Pinaceae (pine family)