Post 32
White Pine
Pinus strobus

Location

N39º28.889'
W088º24.754'

Date Planted

April 7, 2005

Special Note:
During the colonial days of North America, the best of these trees were set aside by the king for masts on British ships. As the nation grew, the lumber of White Pines was used to build our homes and businesses. It is also named the state tree of both Maine and Michigan.

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This tree was donated by Ron Ghere.

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Tree located at
Douglas-Hart Nature Center
Mattoon, Illinois

Tree Description

Horizontal branches, broad at bottom of crown, tapering toward top;  reaches height of 75 to 100 feet with a diameter of 2 to 3 feet.  The trunks are straight and clear of lateral branches for some distance from the ground.

Habitat

Prefers moist, sandy loam soils. 

Range

Newfoundland to Manitoba, south through the northern United States to Pennsylvania, northern Ohio, and southeastern Iowa, southward along the Appalachian Mountains to northern Georgia.

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Leaf (Needle) Description

Evergreen;  aromatic blue-green needles in clusters of 5;  soft, fine, and flexible, with white lines on underside of each needle;  narrowly cylindrical, from 4 to 8 inches in length, and usually slightly curved.

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Bark Description

Thin, smooth, greenish brown when young;  broken into darker vertical ridges when mature.

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Fruit Description

Cone:  slender, curved, 4 to 8 inches long;  no spines on scales;  white marks on tips of scales (with spots of resin oozing from the young cone.)  Seeds are light brown and winged.

The White Pine Tree Fruit Female Seed Cone

White Pine Female Seed Cone Cluster

Male Pollen Cone

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