![]() Pinus strobus (eastern white pine) |
Eastern white pine, Pinus strobus, is well known in the Midwest; although its natural Midwestern range is northern and Appalachian, the tree is planted in yards and parks everywhere, and plantations of white pines, marching in rows, are found in many Midwestern state parks. It is a fast-growing, large tree that can provide dense canopy cover, and a walk in a plantation or stand of white pines is trip through deep shade over a blanket of soft needle duff. Like all true pines (species in the genus Pinus), white pine has bundled needles; it is the only species in the Midwest with needles bundled in groups of 5 (other Midwestern pines have 2 or 3 needles per bundle). The long cones of white pine are also distinctive, since they are substantially longer than the cones of any other Midwestern conifer except Norway spruce, which is not native but is often planted in urban areas. However, the short needles of Norway spruce are not bundled, making the trees easy to separate. |
![]() natural midwestern range |
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