Danny Long, age 13, of Rock Island,I11.,for his question:
HOW TALL WILL A PINE TREE GROW?
Pine trees are the largest and most important group of conifers, or cone bearingtrees. There are about 80 different kinds of pines with 35 of them native to the United States. The largest ones grow to be more than 200 feet tall.
Sugar pine is the largest of the pines. It reaches a maximum height of 246 feet and has a trunk 10 feet in diameter. This tree is native to the mountains of California and Oregon. Largest of the northeastern conifers is the eastern white pine. Some of these trees grow to be more than 200 feet high. These trees can be found growing from Minnesota to Maine and from Canada to the mountains of Georgia.,
The white pine was the most imporant forest tree in North America until about 1890.Then the last virgin stands were cut. The tree is still widely planted for timber and as an ornamental. Its slender, blue green needles grow in bunches of five.
Among the most important lumber trees in the United States are the western hard pines. Three among the12 species are particularly prized commercially: ponderosa pine,Jeffrey pine and lodgepole pine. Most important is the ponderosa, Montana's state tree, which grows to be 150 feet, and is found in the western mountain regions. The lodgepole pine is used for railroad ties and poles. Northeastern hard pines are also important sources of wood for lumber and for pulp. Red pine, which is also called the Norway pine, grows to be about 70 feet tall and can be found in the Great Lakes region, extending northward into Canada and eastward through New York and New England states. Also in this group is the jack pine and the pitch pine.
Southernhard pines, or yellow pines, include the longleaf pine, the shortleaf pine,the loblolly pine and the slash pine. Most important is the loblolly pine that can be found growing from New Jersey to Texas. Generally speaking, pines grow best in full sun. The soil need not be rich.
Bristleconeand foxtail pines are found in the mountain areas of the southwestern United States. These trees are small – usually not more than 20 feet tall and have short, stout needles which remain on the trees for about 10 to17 years.
Bristleconepines are among the world's oldest trees. A small stand of these timber line trees contains some that are more than 4,600 years old. Sugarpine cones range from 10 to 26 inches long and are frequently used for decoration. the cones of the white pine are slender and thin scaled.
They measure about five inches in length. Longleaf and slash pines in the Southern part of the United States are the chief source of the resin used in making turpentine. The longleaf ranges from North Carolina to Louisiana.Timber from this tree is also used in building ships, bridges and railraod cars.
The slash pine grows from South Carolina to Louisiana. In addition to giving turpentine and resin, it is also an important source of lumber and paper pulp.