Pinus strobus (Eastern White Pine)

Pinus strobus

Pinus strobus L.

Strobus strobus (L.) Small

Eastern White Pine, White Pine

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Coniferophyta	Conifers—cone-bearing trees (and a few shrubs)
Class	Pinopsida	Gymnosperms such as cedars, Douglas-firs, cypresses, firs, junipers, kauri, larches, pines, hemlocks, redwoods, spruces, and yews
Order	Pinales	Cone-bearing plants: cedar, cypress, fir, juniper, larch, pine, redwood, spruce, yew, and others
Family	Pinaceae	Pine family: cedars, firs, hemlocks, larches, pines and spruces
Genus	Pinus	Latin for “pine”
Species	strobus	Latin for “coned”

About plant names...

Eastern white pine is a widespread native of North America. The soft, lightweight, easily worked wood has many applications. Trees often reach 250 years in age, with the oldest approaching 500 years.

Identification: Trees typically reach 50-80' (15-24 m) high, and up to 120' (36 m). Young trees are conical in shape, but older trees often lose lower branches and become less evenly shaped. Bark on younger trees is smooth and gray; on older trees it takes the form of gray or reddish rounded scales. Leaves are blue-green evergreen needles 3-5" (7.6-12 cm) long, in groups of 5. Needles are thinner (less than ¹/₃₂" (1 mm)) than those of other species of pines. Male flowers are yellow, while female flowers are light green; both are inconspicuous. Cones are 5-10" (12-25 cm) long, oval or cylindrical in shape, up to 1½" (3.8 cm) wide.

For further information, see the Pinus comparison tables.

Online References:

Pinus strobus at the United States Department of Agriculture Forest Service

Pinus strobus at the University of Florida Environmental Horticulture site (PDF)

Pinus strobus at the Ohio State University PLANTFacts database

References:

Sibley, David Allen, The Sibley Guide to Trees, Alfred A. Knopf, 2009, p. 6