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Eastern White Pine (8)
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Description
The Eastern White Pine is a
fast-growing coniferous tree that matures to heights of 80 to 110 feet
(6). The branches of the White Pine
form a whorled pattern around the straight trunk (5)
and the cones of this conifer are 5 to 8 inches long (4). The needles, which are 3 to 5 inches long,
are bundled in groups of five per fascicle
(4), which
makes the White Pine the only pine with five needles that is native to
Eastern North America (6). Mature
bark of the White Pine is a gray-brown color and is deeply ridged (4). The Eastern White Pine can reach an age
of more than 400 years, although ages of approximately 200 years are more
common (7). The White Pine can be propagated by
seed, but cold
stratification is required before germination can take place (7).
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Location on Campus
The Eastern White Pine tree
can be found in the clearing next to the right side of the road that leads
from the North Entrance of campus toward the B. Thomas Golisano Academic
Complex.
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Native Habitat and Current
Range
This tree is native to
Eastern North America and can be found in Newfoundland and Ontario, as well
as states such as New York, Maryland, and Maine (6).
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Optimal Growing Conditions
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Eastern White Pine needles (2)
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The White Pine does best in
partial shade to full sun (5)
in cool and humid climates (7).
These trees grow well in soils that are well-drained, acidic, and moist (7).
They are sensitive to pollution, clay soils, and alkaline soils, and
therefore do not grow well in urban areas (5). White Pines do well in mountainous
regions, particularly the mountains of New England, Southern Canada, and
Appalachia (5).
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Economic Importance
Wood from the White Pine is
often used in carpentry to make doors, cabinets, paneling, and
furniture. The wood is soft and of moderate
strength; White Pine wood is easy to work with and stain (3).
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Ethnobotanical and Cultural
Information
Native Americans often boiled
or soaked the bark of the White Pine and then used the bark to treat wounds
(3).
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Fascinating Facts
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Eastern White Pine cones (2)
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White Pines are often used for Christmas trees (5).
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Eastern White Pines are susceptible to White Pine
blister rust, (a fungus), and to attack by the White Pine weevil (6).
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The cones of the Eastern White Pine are the longest
of any conifer found in the state of Michigan (4).
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In the 1800’s, the British Navy used the White Pine
for the masts of their ships (1).
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The Eastern White Pine is the official tree of
Ontario, Canada and is also the state tree of Maine and Michigan (7)
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Other interesting sites
TreeGuide State Tree List
This site lists the official trees of each state in the U.S. and each
province in Canada.
White Pine
Planting and Care
This site offers detailed directions on how to plant and care for an
Eastern White Pine.
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References: Articles, Books, Reference
Materials, and the Web
1.
Elanora Heights School. 1997. Eastern White
Pine. http://www.zip.com.au/~elanora/tcwhite.html.
Accessed 9/23/03.
2.
Farrar D, Gardner A. 2002. Pinus strobus (Eastern
White Pine). http://www.iastate.edu/~bot356/species/species/p_tSpecie/PinuStro.html.
Accessed 11/18/03.
3.
Littleflower Publications. 2003. Medicinal
Plants of North America. http://www.geocities.com/littleflowers_medicinal_plants/whitepnativeuse.htm.
Accessed 9/23/03
4.
Michigan State University Extension. 2003. The
Pine Group of Conifers. http://forestry.msu.edu/uptreeid/Species/pines.htm.
Accessed 10/28/03.
5.
Ohio State University Horticulture and Crop Science
Department. 2003. Pinus strobus. http://www.hcs.ohio-state.edu/hcs/TMI/Plantlist/pi_robus.html.
Accessed 11/17/03.
6.
Petrides G. 1986. Peterson Field Guides: A
Field Guide to Trees and Shrubs. 2nd ed. Boston:
Houghton Mifflin Company. 428 p.
7.
Rook E. 1999. Pinus strobus: White Pine.
http://www.rook.org/earl/bwca/nature/trees/pinusstrob.html.
Accessed 9/23/03.
8.
South Carolina Forestry Commission. 2003.
White Pine Tree. http://www.state.sc.us/forest/whitepine.jpg.
Accessed 11/18/03.
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Created by:
Tricia Jones
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