The Pines & Spruces
What are they?
With their attractive cones and graceful, needle-like leaves, pines and spruces are easily recognized, at least as a group. Pines are found throughout much of the world, often forming vast areas of forest in regions where other species struggle to grow, such as in the higher latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere and at altitude in many of the world's mountain ranges. There are no native spruces in Cape May County, but they are often used as garden ornamentals or as Christmas trees and are occasionally found in the wider countryside.
Where are they found?
Typically, pines are trees of dry, sandy soils and tolerant of severe drought and even forest fires to a greater degree than most other trees. In contrast, some species may be found growing in quite damp conditions too. Spruces are naturally found at higher altitudes in mountainous regions, or at higher latitudes, where they form extensive stands in the world's taiga regions.
Identification
Pines and spruces can seem all rather too similar at first, but a combination of leaf and cone detail will sort out most of them fairly easily. The most useful features on the cones are outline shape and presence or absence of a prickle at the end of each scale. Size and color can vary, with most cones being reddish or yellowish-brown to start with, gradually fading to grayish brown as they age. In spruces, the needles are carried singly on the branches, while pine needles are always in bunches of two or more.
Atlas Cedar Cedrus atlantica
Introduced from Europe but a native of North Africa. Occasionally grown as an ornamental tree on larger properties with a large specimen being a feature of an old golf course site at Beesley's Point. As with all true cedars, needles are borne in rosettes on the stem, while cones break up on the tree when ripe, so old cones are rarely found on the ground below the tree. Needles typically 1.5-2cm long. Many cultivated trees are of the form 'Glauca' and have a distinctly bluish color to the needles.
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Deodar Cedar Cedrus deodara
Introduced from Europe but a native of Central Asia. Occasionally grown as an ornamental tree and may be chanced upon on abandoned sites. As with all true cedars, needles are borne in rosettes on the stem, while cones break up on the tree when ripe, so old cones are rarely found on the ground below the tree. Needle tip narrows quite abruptly to a translucent tip. Needles typically much longer than those of other cedars, averaging 3-3.5cm long.
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Norway Spruce Picea abies
Introduced from Europe. A common and popular shade tree and Christmas tree, often found planted in cemeteries and public parks. Occasionally found planted elsewhere in woodland and field edge locations. Cones are long with broadly overlapping scales. Needles relatively blunt, each with a small, transparent 'pimple' on the end (hand lens may be required!).
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Blue Spruce Picea pungens
Introduced from Western USA. Occasionally found planted along field edges and in cemeteries. Cones are rerlatively short with open scales. Needles relatively pointed and sharp-tipped and with a bluish cast.
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Eastern White Pine Pinus strobus
Though native to the eastern USA, this tree is not native to Cape May or the coastal plain. Bark is relatively thin and not peeling or deeply fissured. Needles in fives, 2"-4" long, slender and graceful, often slightly bluish. Cones long and slender, hanging below the branches. Most often found in dense, monocrop blocks in areas where land has been clear-felled and replanted. Most plants are likely to have been planted but occasionally, self-sown seedlings are found.
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Virginia Pine Pinus virginiana
(Scrub Pine) A rather small tree, commonly found in open, sunny sites in dry, sandy soils with Shortleaf and Pitch Pines. Often one of the first colonizers of abandoned land and soon crowded out once thicker woodland develops. Needles in twos, 1.5" to 3" long, usually well twisted and short - the shortest of any Cape May pine. Cones small and round, usually with prickles. Bark usually has vertical grooves much deeper and stronger than horizontal ones.
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Shortleaf Pine Pinus echinata
The English name of this species can mislead as it is by no means the shortest-leaved pine species in Cape May. Not uncommon in the woodlands of the north of the county, mixed with Pitch and Virginia Pines. Needles in twos, 3" to 8" long. Cones small, rather long-oval and with weak prickles. Bark with rather square-looking plates, reddish in color, smoother and less flaky than barks of Pitch and Virginia Pines.
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Loblolly Pine Pinus taeda
A stately tree, capable of growing to over 100' tall, with an enormous, straight trunk. In Cape May rather scarce and on the very northern edge of its natural range. A tree of old, mixed forest but can be found anywhere as it is often planted. Needles in threes, up to 10" long and graceful. Cones elongate, often large and with stout prickles. Bark pale grey with reddish plates, very deeply grooved.
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Pitch Pine Pinus rigida
Overwhelmingly the commonest pine in Cape May county and one of the commonest trees in the region. Found in a range of habitats, but most obvious as the dominant pine species of the New Jersey pine barrens. Leaves in groups of three, 2"-5" long, cones with needle-like prickles. Bark usually very dark and brittle.
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Pond Pine Pinus serotina
A tree of coastal bottomland woods and wet, sandy soils. The range of this species is south of New Jersey and there is controversy as to whether it occurs in our state. It is said that known specimens of Pond Pine in New Jersey have all been tested and proved to be hybrids with Pitch Pine. However, it is not known where this testing was done and there are certainly specimens in the south of Cape May county that are a good match for Pond Pine. If such a southern species were to be found in New Jersey, the tip of Cape May would appear to be a reasonable place to find them! Bark grooved and flaky, but not as deeply grooved or as rugged as Pitch Pine, and with reddish tones showing beneath the outermost layers. Needles in threes, 5" to 11" long, generally much longer than those of Pitch Pine (which generally prefers drier ground). Cones rather variable but usually with at least some week prickles.
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Scots Pine Pinus sylvatica
Introduced from Europe. An uncommon tree in Cape May but occasionally found in parks and other public places in urban areas. Best recognized by the slightly bluish color of the needles and the pinkish-orange color to the upper branches. Needles in twos, cones small and well rounded.
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Japanese Black Pine Pinus thunbergiana
Introduced from Asia. Widely planted on barrier islands and around Cape May Point as a windbreak due to its tolerance of salty coast air. Often a rather short tree with spreading, horizontal branches. Rather twisted, low form may largely be due to coastal growing conditions. Leaves in twos, rather stiff; cones without prickles and usually quite small.
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Douglas Fir Pseudotsuga menziesii
Native to western North America but widely planted as an ornamental, for shelter belts and occasionally for commercial forestry. Most easily identified by its distinctive cones which have three-lobed bracts protruding from between the segments of the cone.
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Eastern Hemlock Tsuga canadensis
A native of the mountains and rocky areas of eastern North America but only found on the coastal plain where it has been introduced for forestry or ornamental purposes. Occasionally found in small forestry plantations or as isolated roadside trees. Needles are blunt and rounded at the tips and the small, hanging cones are very distinctive. The whole tree has a delicate, fern-like look to its branches.
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