A pine is a coniferous trees in the genus Pinus, in the family Pinaceae. There are about 115 species of pines worldwide, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species. Pines are native to most of the Northern Hemisphere.

Pines are evergreen and resinous trees (rarely shrubs). The smallest pine is Siberian Dwarf Pine and Potosi Pinyon, and the tallest pine is Sugar Pine.

Pines are among the most plentiful and commercially important of tree species, valued for their timber and wood pulp throughout the world.

In temperate and tropical regions, Pines are fast-growing softwoods that will grow in relatively dense stands, their acidic decaying needles inhibiting the sprouting of competing hardwoods.

The Common North American Pines

• eastern white pine (Pinus strobus)
• western white pine (Pinus monticola)
• sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana)
• red pine (Pinus resinosa)
• pitch pine (Pinus rigida)
• jack pine (Pinus banksiana)
• longleaf pine (Pinus palustris)
• shortleaf pine (Pinus  echinata)
• loblolly pine (Pinus taeda)
• slash pine (Pinus elliottii)
• Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana)
• lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta)
• Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa)

 

Major Characteristics:

Leaves: persistent or deciduous, linear or needle-like.

Bark: Smooth to scaly or furrowed.

Fruit: Woody cones.

 

Other Conifers:
| baldcypress | cedar | Douglas-fir | fir | hemlock | larch | redwood | spruce |

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