Pines

Question 1

• Needles in clusters of 3; very long
• Zone 3-7
• Cones are egg shaped; 3-6 in.
• Bark on older leaves forms flaky yellow plates
• Needles longer than cone

Answer 1

Pinus ponderosa (Ponderosa Pine)

Question 2

• tall and narrow
• Needles in clusters of 2; around the same size as the cone (3 in or less)
• needles are sparse and yellow/green
• bark is yellow and scaly

Answer 2

Pinus contorta (Lodgepole Pine)

Question 3

• Largest cones of any pine tree, up to 20 inches long
• Needles are blue/green and 2-4 inches long; much shorter than the cones
• Needles in bunches of 5
• Sweet sap oozes from wounds

Answer 3

Pinus lambertiana (Sugar pine)

Question 4

• The longest living life forms on earth
• needles are short and grow in “fox tails” in clusters of 5
• Needles are 3/4 the size of the cones
• Grow in dry desert mountains

Answer 4

Pinus longaeva (Bristlecone Pine)

Question 5

• Tall with limbs growing in horizontal whorled spokes
• Needles are thin, 2-4 in long, and in bundles of 5
• Cones are slender, 3-10 in long
• Wood is light, soft, and straight grained

Answer 5

Pinus strobus (Eastern White Pine)

Question 6

• sold commercially as “yellow pine”
• harder and more resinous wood
• 30-40 feet tall
• needles are 2-3 inches long in clusters of 2
• branches are difficult to snap and break
• cones are egg shaped and 2-3 inches long
• cone scales are tipped with tiny thorns

Answer 6

Pinus virginiana (Virginia Pine)

Question 7

• 15-40 feet tall
• scrubby tree; needles in clusters of 2 and 1-1.5 inches long
• cones are about 2 inches long; usually curved or bulging on one side
• fires cause the cones to release their seeds

Answer 7

Pinus banksiana (Jack Pine)

Question 8

• 50-80 feet tall
• 4-6 inch needles in clusters of 2
• cones are small and round without thorns, about 2 inches

Answer 8

Pinus resinosa (Red Pine)

Question 9

• needles are 5-10 inches long; clusters in both 2 and 3
• buds are rusty silver
• cones are 3-6 inches long

Answer 9

Pinus elliottii (SlashPine)

Question 10

• needles are 6-9 inches long and in clusters of 3
• end buds are brown
• cones are 3-6 inches long and prickly

Answer 10

Pinus taeda (Loblolly Pine)

Question 11

• 3-5 inch needles usually in clusters of 2
• cones are small, up to 3 inches long and scales have weak prickles

Answer 11

Pinus echinata (Short leaf Pine)

Question 12

• needles are 4-8 inches and in clusters of 3
• trunk sprouts are often present
• cones are 2-3 inches and nearly round; prickles are weak or absent
• cones often remain attached

Answer 12

Pinus serotina (Pond Pine)

Question 13

• Very long needles in groups of 3
• cones are 6-10 inches long
• silver/white end buds

Answer 13

Pinus palustris (long leaf pine)

Question 14

• pinyon pine
• clusters of one single needle, but sheathed at the base

Answer 14

Pinus monophylla (single leafed pinyon)

Question 15

• pinyon pine
• needles in clusters of 2

Answer 15

Pinus edulis (2-needled pinyon)

Question 16

• pinyon pine
• needles in clusters of 3

Answer 16

Pinus cembroides (Mexican pinyon)

Question 17

• pinyon pine
• needles in clusters of 4

Answer 17

Pinus quadrifolia (parry pinyon)