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pine

pine

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed. | 2008 | Copyright

pine common name for members of the Pinaceae, a family of resinous woody trees with needlelike, usually evergreen leaves. The Pinaceae reproduce by means of cones (see cone ) rather than flowers and many have winged seeds, suitable for wind distribution. They are found chiefly in north temperate regions, where they form vast forests. The family was apparently more abundant in the mid-Cenozoic era, but it has maintained its population better than other gymnosperms because the trees are more adaptable to cold, dry climates; the reduced leaf surface and deep-set stomata minimize loss of water by transpiration. The family is the largest and most important of the conifers, providing naval stores, paper pulp, and more lumber by far than any other family. In some localities almost pure stands occur, permitting economical lumbering of large numbers of a given type of tree. Of the family's nine genera four are widely dispersed throughout North America and the Old World. Members of all nine genera are represented in horticulture as introduced timber trees or ornamentals. The so-called kauri pine, although pinelike in appearance, belongs to another family (see monkey-puzzle tree ).

The True Pines

Pinus (the true pines) is the largest and most widespread genus, characteristic of many north temperate regions (except the plains), especially at lower altitudes, and in a few tropical regions, notably on mountain slopes. Species of Pinus can often be identified by the leaf arrangement, one needle or clusters of from two to five (in all cases enclosed in a sheath at the base) being consistently produced by each type. Many of the pines are economically valuable; from them come the naval stores: pitch (see tar and pitch ), turpentine , and rosin . Drying and nondrying oils are also made from the seeds of some pines. Several Mediterranean and American species yield edible seeds (see pine nut ).

The ponderosa pine or western yellow pine ( P. ponderosa ), is a hard pine second only to the Douglas fir as a commercial timber tree in North America. The white pine ( P. strobus ) has straight-grained soft wood with little resin, used especially for interior trim and cabinetwork. It once grew densely from Newfoundland to Manitoba and over much of the E United States westward to Minnesota, but constant felling and attacks of white-pine blister rust have greatly depleted the stands, especially in the NE United States. The Norway pine, or red pine, ( P. resinosa ) has a similar range and has also suffered from overcutting. Its wood is somewhat heavier and is suitable for general construction. The Norway pine is frequently used in reforestation programs. The jack pine ( P. banksiana ), the most northern of the American species, thrives on poor and sandy soils and is much used to colonize areas where more valuable species may later be introduced. Although the trunk is often gnarled, making it unsuitable for good lumber, it supplies much pulpwood and is used locally for rough lumber, fuel, and crating. The Virginia pine ( P. virginiana ) of the Appalachians and the Piedmont is popular regionally as a Christmas tree. The longleaf pine, or Southern yellow pine ( P. palustris ) has highly resinous wood used for heavy construction and as a major source of naval stores and pulpwood. It and the faster growing slash pine ( P. caribaea ) of the same region have gained importance as northern pine stands have been depleted. The latter is widely cultivated in tropical areas with sandy soils. The Scotch pine ( P. sylvestris ), ranging from Scotland to Siberia and popular as a Christmas tree in the United States, is one of the most valuable timber trees of Europe. The cluster pine ( P. pinaster ), widespread in S France and in Spain, is the chief European source of turpentine. The Monterey pine ( P. radiata ) of California has been widely planted in New Zealand and Chile for reforestation.

Other Species in the Pine Family

Abies ( fir ) species are usually of more northern distribution and found at higher altitudes. Sap-filled "blisters" on the trunks of some species provide balsam . Larix ( larch ) and Pseudolarix (golden larch, of China) are the only two deciduous genera. Picea ( spruce ) is the world's most important source of paper. Cedrus ( cedar ) ranges from the Mediterranean area to the Himalayas; Keteleeria is restricted to E and SE Asia.

Tsuga ( hemlock ) and Pseudotsuga are native only to North America and E Asia. Pseudotsuga menziesii (the Douglas fir) of W North America, one of the tallest trees known (up to 385 ft/117 m) and the leading timber-producing tree of the continent, is carefully controlled by forestry measures. Its wood, usually hard and strong, is of great commercial importance for construction; it is also commonly used as a Christmas tree in the United States. Named for David Douglas, the tree has many local names, e.g., Douglas spruce, Oregon pine, red fir, and yellow fir.

Classification

Pines are classified in the division Pinophyta , class Pinopsida, order Coniferales.

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pine

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English | 2009 | Copyright

pine1 / pīn/ • n. 1. (also pine tree) an evergreen coniferous tree (genus Pinus, family Pinaceae) that has clusters of long needle-shaped leaves. Many kinds are grown for their soft timber, which is widely used for furniture and pulp, or for tar and turpentine. ∎  used in names of coniferous trees of other families, e.g., Norfolk Island pine. ∎  used in names of unrelated plants that resemble the pines in some way, e.g., ground pine. ∎  [as adj.] having the scent of pine needles. 2. inf. a pineapple. pine2 • v. [intr.] suffer a mental and physical decline, esp. because of a broken heart: she thinks I am pining away from love. ∎  (pine for) miss and long for the return of: I was pining for my boyfriend.

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Pinus

A Dictionary of Plant Sciences | 1998 | | Copyright

Pinus (true pines; family Pinaceae) A genus of resinous, evergreen conifers in which the leaves (needles) are borne in groups of twos, threes, or fives on short shoots borne along the twigs. There are separate male and female cones, the latter with woody scales; the seeds are winged. Many pines are important for timber, also yielding resin and turpentine. There are 93 species, all in the northern hemisphere, occurring mainly in northern temperate regions, extending in America and eastern Asia to the seasonal tropics. The common name ‘pine’ is sometimes used to describe other pine-like trees of different genera (e.g. Araucaria araucana. Chile pine or monkey-puzzle tree), or, loosely, to include all conifers.
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pine

World Encyclopedia | 2005 | Copyright

pine Any of various evergreen, cone-bearing trees of the genus Pinus, most of which are native to cooler temperate regions of the world. Many have two types of shoots, some with needle-like leaves and others with deciduous, scale-like leaves. The reproductive organs may be catkins or cones. Many species are valued for soft wood, wood pulp, oils and resins. Family: Pinaceae. See also gymnosperm
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pine

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Copyright

pine2 †afflict, torment OE.; †cause to languish or waste away XIII; become wasted XV; be consumed with longing XVI. OE. pīnian, corr. to MDu., MLG. pīnen (Du. pijnen), OHG. pīnōn, ON. pína, re., to OE. *pīne (ME. pine) PAIN, = OS., OHG. pīna (Du. pijne, pijn, G. pein), ON. pína, Gmc. — medL. pēna, L. pœna.
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pine

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology | 1996 | | Copyright

pine1 tree of the coniferous genus Pinus. OE. pīn — L. pīnus, coalescing in ME. with adoption of (O)F. pin.
Hence pineapple A. †pine-cone XIV; B. plant Ananas comosus, the collective fruit of which develops from a conical spike XVII.
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pine

A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture | 2000 | | Copyright

pine. Finials and pendants in the form of pine-cones, commonly found in Classical architecture. They sometimes resemble the skins of pineapples.
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JAMES STEVENS CURL. "pine." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. 2000. Encyclopedia.com. 10 Feb. 2012 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

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pine

A Dictionary of Plant Sciences | 1998 | | Copyright

pine
1.. See PINUS.

2.. (Japanese umbrella pine) See SCIADOPITYS.
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pine

Oxford Dictionary of Rhymes | 2007 | Copyright

pine •align, assign, benign, brine, chine, cline, combine, condign, confine, consign, dine, divine, dyne, enshrine, entwine, fine, frontline, hardline, interline, intertwine, kine, Klein, line, Main, malign, mine, moline, nine, on-line, opine, outshine, pine, Rhein, Rhine, shine, shrine, sign, sine, spine, spline, stein, Strine, swine, syne, thine, tine, trine, twine, Tyne, underline, undermine, vine, whine, wine •Sabine • carbine • Holbein • woodbine •concubine • columbine • turbine •sardine • Aldine • muscadine •celandine • anodyne • androgyne

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Free newspaper and magazine articles

PINES RUNAWAY REMAINS AT LARGE.(LOCAL)
Newspaper article from: The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA); 3/7/1997
PINES CENTER'S DIFFICULTIES DECREASE TROUBLED TEENS' RUNAWAY RATE HAS...
Newspaper article from: The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA); 7/17/1998
PINES TO SHUT DOWN ITS CONTROVERSIAL PROGRAMS THE CENTER'S MOST VIOLENT,...
Newspaper article from: The Virginian-Pilot (Norfolk, VA); 11/22/1997

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