Michigan Trees Part 8

HABIT.--A large tree 60-80 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-2 feet; the side branches persist, forming a ma.s.sive, wide-spreading crown.

LEAVES.--In cl.u.s.ters of two; 1-1/2-3 inches long; stiff, more or less twisted, spreading slightly from a short sheath; bluish-or often glaucous-green. Persistent 3-4 years.

FLOWERS.--May-June; monoecious; the staminate ovoid, short-stalked, yellowish, about 1/4 inch long; the pistillate oblong, reddish, short-stalked, about 1/4 inch long.

FRUIT.--Autumn of second season, falling as soon as ripe; pendent, stout-stalked, ovoid-conical cones 1-1/2-2-1/2 inches long; scales dull gray-brown, thickened at the apex into 4-sided, recurved points; seeds red-brown, nearly 1/4 inch long, with wings about 3/4 inch long.

WINTER-BUDS.--Oblong-ovoid, sharp-pointed, red-brown, resinous, about 1/4 inch long.

BARK.--Twigs reddish to orange-brown, becoming grayish; thick, dark orange-brown on old trunks and coa.r.s.ely and deeply fissured.

WOOD.--Light, stiff, straight-grained, strong, heavy, hard, resinous, red-brown, with thick, yellow to reddish white sapwood.

NOTES.--Very rapid of growth. Reaches perfection only in cold or elevated regions. Adapts itself to a variety of soils. A valuable ornamental tree. Very useful for screens or shelter belts.

[Ill.u.s.tration: +Red Pine, Norway Pine+

1. Cl.u.s.ter of leaves, 1.

2. Cross-section of leaf, enlarged.

3. Opened cone, 1.

4. Cone-scale with seeds, 1.]

+PINACEAE+

+Red Pine. Norway Pine+

_Pinus resinosa Ait._

HABIT.--A large tree 70-80 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 2-3 feet; stout, horizontal branches, form a broad, rounded, rather open crown.

LEAVES.--In cl.u.s.ters of two; 4-6 inches long; slender, straight, needle-shaped, sharp-pointed, flexible, from elongated, persistent sheaths; l.u.s.trous dark green. Persistent 4-5 years.

FLOWERS.--April-May; monoecious; the staminate in oblong, dense cl.u.s.ters, 1/2-3/4 inch long, composed of many sessile, purple anthers imbricated upon a central axis; the pistillate single or few-cl.u.s.tered at the end of the branchlets, subglobose; scales ovate, scarlet, borne on stout peduncles covered with pale brown bracts.

FRUIT.--Autumn of second season, falling the next summer; ovoid-conical, nearly sessile cones, about 2 inches long; scales thickened at the apex; seeds oval, compressed, light mottled-brown, with wings 1/2-3/4 inch long.

WINTER-BUDS.--About 3/4 inch long, ovoid or conical, acute, red-brown, with rather loose scales.

BARK.--Twigs orange-brown, becoming rough with the persistent bases of leaf-buds; thick and red-brown on the trunk, shallowly fissured into broad, flat ridges.

WOOD.--Light, hard, very close-grained, pale red, with thin, yellow to white sapwood.

DISTRIBUTION.--Very abundant in Clare County and northward; frequent on the east side of the state as far south as Port Huron.

HABITAT.--Sandy plains and dry woods.

NOTES.--Rapid of growth on the better soils. Difficult to transplant.

[Ill.u.s.tration: +Tamarack+

1. Autumn branchlet, with leaves and cones, 1.

2. Cross-section of leaf, enlarged.

3. Fruiting branchlet in winter, 1.

4. Cone-scale with seeds, 2.]

+PINACEAE+

+Tamarack+

_Larix laricina (DuRoi) Koch_ [_Larix americana Michx._]

HABIT.--A tree sometimes 80-100 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-2 feet; forming a broad, open, irregular crown of horizontal branches.

LEAVES.--Scattered singly along the leading shoots or cl.u.s.tered on the short lateral branchlets; linear, with blunt apex; rounded above, keeled beneath; about 1 inch long; bright green; sessile. Deciduous in early autumn.

FLOWERS.--April-May, with the leaves, monoecious; the staminate sessile, subglobose, yellow, composed of many short-stalked anthers spirally arranged about a central axis; the pistillate oblong, short-stalked, composed of orbicular, green scales (subtended by red bracts) spirally arranged about a central axis.

FRUIT.--Autumn of first season, but persistent on the tree for a year longer; ovoid, obtuse, light brown, short-stalked cones, 1/2-3/4 inch long; seeds 1/8 inch long, with pale brown wings widest near the middle.

WINTER-BUDS.--Small, globose, l.u.s.trous, dark red.

BARK.--Twigs at first grayish, glaucous, later light orange-brown, and finally dark brown; red-brown and scaly on the trunk.

WOOD.--Heavy, hard, very strong, coa.r.s.e-grained, very durable, light brown, with thin, nearly white sapwood.

DISTRIBUTION.--Common throughout the state.

HABITAT.--Prefers cold, deep swamps, or in the north coming out on the drier uplands.

NOTES.--Becomes a picturesque tree in old age. Should be transplanted while dormant.

+SUMMER KEY TO THE SPECIES OF PICEA+

a. Leaves 3/4-1 inch long, sharp-pointed; twigs glabrous.

b. Cones 1-2 inches long, maturing in first season; leaves ill-scented when bruised. _P. canadensis_, p. 21.

bb. Cones 3-6 inches long, maturing in second season; leaves not ill-scented when bruised. _P. abies_, p. 25.

aa. Leaves 1/8-3/8 inch long, blunt-pointed; twigs rusty-p.u.b.escent. _P. mariana_, p. 23.