Habitat.—Prefers fertile, well-drained soil, but will grow in all soils and situations excepting swamps and dry wind-swept ridges.
Notes.—White Pine is easily distinguished from all other native species by the leaves which are in clusters of five. This tree is one of the most valuable and beautiful of the conifers. Its wood is extensively used for shingles, construction, cabinet work, woodenware, matches, etc. As an ornamental tree it is especially attractive. A fungous disease, the white pine blister rust, threatens to destroy the species.
PITCH PINE
Pinus rigida, Mill.
Form.—Usually 50-60 feet high, 1-2½ feet in diameter; trunk not straight, tapering; crown rounded, usually open; limbs coarse, gnarled, with thick bark, and persistent old cones.
Leaves.—In clusters of three; stout, rigid, somewhat twisted, often standing at right angles with the branches; yellow-green.
Flowers.—Appear April-May; monoecious; the staminate in crowded spikes, at base of new growth, yellow; the pistillate short-stalked, nearly round, green tinged with rose.
Fruit.—Cones maturing autumn of second year; ovoid, often clustered, divergent from stem, 1-3 inches long, adhering for several years; scales thin, armed with stiff recurved prickles; triangular seeds ¼ inch long with wing ¾ inch long, one-third inch wide, dark brown to black, sometimes spotted with gray or red dots.