Pinus strobus is the only
gymnosperm in Wisconsin with needles arranged in fascicles
of 5. The elongate cones may reach nearly 20 cm in length
and the trees have the potential to exceed one meter in
diameter. It was a major timber tree in Wisconsin during
settlement of the northern areas and continues to be highly
valued for its wood.
Pinus strobus is distributed
from southern Ontario and Minnesota to Iowa, east to Pennsylvania
and the maritime provinces of Canada, and extending farther
south along the Appalachian Mountains. In Wisconsin it has
nearly the same distribution as Pinus resinosa--nearly
throughout the state except for a few southeastern counties.
It is common on dry sandy and rocky sites, but may also
be found in more mesic sites, perhaps remaining from colonizations
after fire.
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