39. EASTERN WHITE PINE Pinus strobus Linnaeus |
| Eastern white pine is one of the most widely distributed, beautiful, and useful forest trees native to New York. It grows naturally in a wide range of sites, from the steep mountainsides in the Adirondacks to the hillsides and valley swamps of central and western New York. The miles of stump fences still standing in the southwestern section of the state are evidence of the abundance of the tree at one time in this region. The wood is soft, even-textured, very light brown in color, and easily worked. The lumber has a wide range of uses for interior trim, sash and doors, boxes, and buckets. In fact, no other wood in the United States has such a wide range of uses. |
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| Bark -
thin, smooth, and greenish in color on young trees, becoming deeply furrowed and grayish
brown in color on older trees. Twigs - rather slender, brittle, light brown in color. Winter buds - sharp-pointed, yellowish brown in color. Leaves - needle-like, in clusters of 5, 3 to 5 inches long, bluish green in color, soft, flexible, staying on the twigs for 2 years. Fruit - a cone, 5 to 10 inches long, with short stalks, drooping, cylindrical, 1/2 inch in diameter, tending to curve from stem to apex, requiring 2 years to mature. Seeds - 2 under each scale, winged, ripening in September. Distinguishing features - needles in clusters of 5; long, limber cone.
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