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| Red pine | |
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| Trees atSherburne NWR,Minnesota | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Gymnospermae |
| Division: | Pinophyta |
| Class: | Pinopsida |
| Order: | Pinales |
| Family: | Pinaceae |
| Genus: | Pinus |
| Subgenus: | P. subg.Pinus |
| Section: | P.sect. Pinus |
| Subsection: | P.subsect. Pinus |
| Species: | P. resinosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Pinus resinosa | |
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Pinus resinosa, known asred pine[2][3] (alsoNorway pine inMinnesota),[4] is apine native to EasternNorth America.[5]
Red pine is aconiferousevergreen tree characterized by tall, straight growth.[6] It usually ranges from 20–35 metres (66–115 feet) in height and 1 m (3 ft 3 in) in trunk diameter, exceptionally reaching 43.77 m (143+1⁄2 ft) tall.[7] The crown is conical, becoming a narrow rounded dome with age. Thebark is thick and gray-brown at the base of the tree, but thin, flaky and bright orange-red in the upper crown; the tree's name derives from this distinctive character. Some red color may be seen in the fissures of the bark. The species is self pruning; there tend not to be dead branches on the trees, and older trees may have very long lengths of branchless trunk below the canopy.[5]
Theleaves are needle-like, dark yellow-green, infascicles of two,[6]12–18 centimetres (4+3⁄4–7 inches) long, and brittle. The leaves snap cleanly when bent; this character, stated as diagnostic for red pine in some texts, is however shared by several other pine species. Thecones are symmetricalovoid,4–6 cm (1+1⁄2–2+1⁄4 in) long by 2.5 cm (1 in) broad, and purple before maturity, ripening to nut-blue and opening to4–5 cm (1+1⁄2–2 in) broad, the scales without a prickle and almost stalkless.[2]
The pine grows well in sandy soils and on soils which are too poor for white pine.[5]
Red pine is notable for its very constant morphology and low genetic variation throughout its range, suggesting it has been through a near extinction in its recentevolutionary history.[8][9] A genetic study of nuclear microsatellite polymorphisms among populations distributed throughout its natural range found that red pine populations from Newfoundland are genetically distinct from most mainland populations, consistent with dispersal from different glacial refugia in this highly self-pollinating species.[10]
It occurs fromNewfoundland west toManitoba, and south toPennsylvania, with several smaller, disjunct populations occurring in theAppalachian Mountains inVirginia andWest Virginia, as well as a few small pockets in extreme northernNew Jersey and northernIllinois.[1][11]
It can be found in a variety of habitats.[5]
It isintolerant of shade, but does well in windy sites; it grows best in well-drained soil. It is a long-lived tree, reaching a maximum age of about 500 years.[12]
Thewood is commercially valuable inforestry fortimber andpaper pulp, and the tree is also used for landscaping.[5]
The wood is light, hard, and very close grained. It is not durable in contact with soil without chemical treatment. It is used in construction for piling, masts, spars, boxes, and crates.[5]
The red pine is Minnesota'sstate tree.[13] In Minnesota the use of the name "Norway"[4] may stem from earlyScandinavian immigrants who likened the American red pines to theScots pines back home.[14]
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| Other | |
