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Pines may be classified
into various sub-types, a few of which are mentioned below:
Eastern pines
are white pines with tall, smooth grained trunks and may measure
more than four feet in diameter at its base. Examples of a few
important eastern pines are the red pine, pitch pine and the jack
pine. The jack pine is one of the first trees to grow after
wild fires.
Southeastern pines
have a scaly bark, and its cones grow up to two inches in length.
Its needles appear in bundles of two. Examples of this type include
the ‘shortleaf pine’, a tall tree whose bark is divided into
irregular plates and needles grow in bundles of two or three, the
‘longleaf pine’, the ‘slash pine’ and the ‘pond pine’. The longleaf
pine has large cones and extremely long needles. It requires sandy
soils for its growth. The slash pine grows in somewhat moister
soils. It is an important source of resin. The pond pine occurs in
swampy areas. It can grow back from its roots after the aboveground
part of the tree has been destroyed by fire.
Western pines
include the digger pine whose seeds were an important source of food
at one time for the American Indians. Among these, the ponderosa
pine that produces high quality lumber and the sugar pine, which
produces the longest cones, are a few important ones.
Other important pine
species include the Scotch pine, the Black pine, the Austrian pine
and the Aleppo pine.
Uses
Pines are a chief source of timber
which is used for making furniture.
Their tall, straight trunks are ideal for lumber. Resin derived from
pines is used in the manufacture of soap, turpentine and paint. The
soft wood of many pine species is used in the manufacture of paper. |
