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What is the Scientific Name of the Pine Genus XXXXX?
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There are three native pine trees to Minnesota, there are others that are grown ornamentally, but the timber industry mainly uses these three species.
Red Pine -
Form
Height 60' to 80', sometimes 100', diameter 30" to 40"; straight trunk; branches on mature trees form an open, rounded, picturesque head.
Bark
Becomes divided into large reddish brown plates as it matures, which gives tree its characteristic appearance and its common name, red pine.
Leaf
Needle like, occurs in clusters of two; dark green; 4" to 6"; breaks cleanly when bent.
Fruit (seed)
Cones are about 2" long, light brown fading to gray; thin, slightly concave cone scales are without spines or prickles and are free from resin; cones ripen about the middle of September of their second season, but stay on branchlets until following spring or summer; seeds small, length about 1/8", dark or mottled brown, winged, and widely scattered by the wind.
Range
Found in many parts of northern and northeastern Minnesota; popular for forest planting because of its disease and insect resistance; thrives on sandy loam or dry, rocky ridges; shade intolerant.
Wood uses
Pale red with thin, nearly white sapwood; medium heavy, hard, coarser grained and harder than white pine; used in construction of bridges and buildings and for pilings.
White Pine
Form
Height 80' to 100'; up to 42" in diameter; straight trunk and regular pyramidal shape with soft gray-green foliage; clear of branches for many feet when growing in the forest; on young trees, branches extend horizontally in whorls (circle arrangements), marking successive years of upward growth.
Bark
Thin, smooth, and greenish gray on young trees, but thick, deeply furrowed, and grayish brown on older trees.
Leaf
Needle-like, 2-1/2" to 5" long; bluish green on upper surface, whitish beneath; occurs in bundles of five; soft, flexible.
Fruit (seed)
Cones are 4" to 8" long, cylindrical with thin and usually very gummy scales, each containing two small winged seeds; cones mature at end of second season.
Range
Important throughout the northern, central, and eastern parts of the state; also found scattered along the Mississippi River as far south as Houston County; thrives on fertile, well-drained soil; intermediate in shade tolerance. White pine blister rust, white pine weevil, and deer browsing are problems that take a heavy toll on the tree's survival.
Wood uses
Light, soft, not strong, light brown in color, often tinged with red; easily worked; manufactured into lumber, shingles, and laths; used for construction purposes—cabinet making, interior finish of buildings, and wooden ware.
Jack Pine
Click on the images help you identify an Jack pine.
Form
Straight trunk; height 25' to 60'; diameter 8" to 20"; spreading, cone-shaped to irregular crown and scant or open foliage. Small dead branches often remain on trees for many years.
Bark
Dull red-brown; irregularly divided into small scales.
Leaf
Needlelike, 3/4" to 1-1/2" long, stubby, flat, grayish green; two in a bundle and slightly twisted; remain on branchlets for about three years.
Fruit (seed)
Cones are about 1-1/2" long, often strongly curved, brown when ripe, turning gray later, sometimes remaining on branches unopened and containing good seeds for many years; small winged, triangular seeds can be carried far in strong winds. Many trees have ripe cones when seven years old.
Range
Found in abundance in north-central and northeastern Minnesota; occurs generally in pure stands on poor, sandy soil; usually the first of the pines to spring up and occupy land following fire; hardy and thrives on soil too poor for white or red pine; very shade intolerant.
Wood uses
Light, soft, not strong, close-grained, clear pale brown with thick, nearly white sapwood; used for laths, box material, craft paper, firewood, and increasingly for lumber; used for windbreaks because of its hardiness.
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Welcome to the Little Falls Area! We have a series of caches dedicated to the people that have and are making the area a great part of the Minnesota quilt. These caches are placed under the name TeamGeoPilot in honor of our team of Cache Hiders! Enjoy and hopefully you will all be Little Falls experts after you search these out.