Description Pinus strobus

1 description

1.1 dimensions

1.1.1 height
1.1.2 diameter

description

like members of white pine group, pinus subgenus strobus, leaves ( needles ) in fascicles (bundles) of 5, or 3 or 4, deciduous sheath. flexible, bluish-green, finely serrated, 5–13 cm (2–5 in) long, , persist 18 months, i.e., spring of 1 season until autumn of next, when abscise.

the cones slender, 8–16 cm (3 ⁄4–6 ⁄4 in) long (rarely longer that) , 4–5 cm (1 ⁄2–2 in) broad when open, , have scales rounded apex , reflexed tip. seeds 4–5 mm (⁄32–⁄16 in) long, slender 15–20 mm (⁄8–⁄4 in) wing, , dispersed wind. cone production peaks every 3 5 years.

while eastern white pine self-fertile, seeds produced way tend result in weak, stunted, , malformed seedlings.

mature trees 200–250 years old, , live on 400 years. tree growing near syracuse, new york dated 458 years old in late 1980s , trees in michigan , wisconsin dated approximately 500 years old.

dimensions

measuring circumference of eastern white pine

the eastern white pine has distinction of being tallest tree in eastern north america. in natural pre-colonial stands reported have grown tall 70 m (230 ft). there no means of accurately documenting height of trees these times, eastern white pine may have reached height on rare occasions. greater heights have been reported in popular, unverifiable, accounts such robert pike s tall trees, tough men .

total trunk volumes of largest specimens approximately 28 m (990 cu ft), past giants possibly reaching 37 or 40 m (1,300 or 1,400 cu ft). photographic analysis of giants suggests volumes closer 34 m (1,200 cu ft).

height

pinus strobus grows approximately 1 m (3.3 ft) annually between ages of 15 , 45 years, slower height increments before , after age range. tallest presently living specimens 50–57.55 m (164 ft 1 in–188 ft 10 in) tall, determined native tree society (nts). 3 locations in southeastern united states , 1 site in northeastern united states have trees 55 m (180 ft) tall.

the southern appalachian mountains have locations , tallest trees in present range of pinus strobus. 1 survivor specimen known boogerman pine in cataloochee valley of great smoky mountains national park. @ 57.55 m (188 ft 10 in) tall, tallest accurately measured tree in north america east of rocky mountains. has been climbed , measured tape drop native tree society. before hurricane opal broke top in october 1995, boogerman pine 63 m (207 ft) tall, determined blozan , robert leverett using ground based measurements.

the tallest specimens in hartwick pines state park in michigan 45–48 m (148–157 ft) tall.

in northeastern usa, 8 sites in 4 states have trees on 48 m (157 ft) tall, confirmed native tree society. cook forest state park of pennsylvania has numerous collection of 45 m (148 ft) eastern white pines in northeast, 110 trees measuring height or more. park s longfellow pine tallest presently living eastern white pine in northeast, @ 55.96 m (183 ft 7 in) tall, determined being climbed , measured tape drop. mohawk trail state forest of massachusetts has 83 trees measuring 45 m (148 ft) or more tall, of 6 exceed 48.8 m (160 ft). jake swamp tree located there 51.54 m (169 ft 1 in) tall. native tree society maintains precise measurements of it. private property in claremont, new hampshire has approximately 60 specimens 45 m (148 ft) tall. besides aforementioned sites, sites 45 m (148 ft) tall specimens typically have 1 15 specimens.

diameter

diameters of larger pines range 1.0–1.6 m (3 ft 3 in–5 ft 3 in), translates circumference (girth) range of 3.1–5.0 m (10 ft 2 in–16 ft 5 in). however, single-trunked white pines in both northeast , southeast diameters on 1.45 m (4 ft 9 in) exceedingly rare. notable big pine sites of 40 ha (99 acres) or less have no more 2 or 3 trees in 1.2 1.4 m (3 ft 11 in 4 ft 7 in) diameter class.

white pine boughs, showing annual yellowing , abscission of older foliage in autumn. upstate new york, usa.

unconfirmed reports colonial era gave diameters of virgin white pines of 2.4 m (8 ft).