Pine leaves
Contents |
Introduction
With just over 100 different types of wood – not including sub-species – used as timber, the decision about which species or even which type of wood to use can seem daunting. From coniferous softwoods to the different genus of hardwoods, understanding the properties of each is an important step in identifying the right wood to use for a particular job.
Pine is one of the most popular woods around the world, and with around 126 current species, there’s a lot to know about this wood in particular.
Foliage identification
There are a variety of sub-species of pine, all with different identification factors with regards to their leaves and cones. There are four different types of pine leaf from different stages through the lifecycle of the tree. There are also three separate subgenera of pine, each with different leaf characteristics.
Young Leaves
The foliage of a pine tree begins life as a cotyledon, which is the primary leaf form in the embryo of a new leaf in a phanerogam – any plant which produces seeds for reproduction. These are produced in a pattern of spirals – or a whorl – of around 4-24.
Juvenile leaves form on seedlings and young pine. These can measure around 2-6 cm long and form in a variety of greens and blues in a spiral pattern around the shoots.
Smaller and brown, the scale leaves aren’t photosynthetic and are arranged in a similar pattern to those of the juvenile leaves.
Adult Leaves
The needles, which are the best-known method of identifying pine trees, are the adult leaves which are know to last for up to 40 years on the tree, dependent on the pine species. These grow in clusters from a dwarf shoot which protrudes from the scale leaf, and are often arranged in 2-5 needles.
These photosynthetic needles are also easily replaced. Should any damage occur to the shoot, the needle clusters below the damage will create another bud to replace those leaves which will be lost.
Cones
Cones on a pine tree are usually both male and female, but there are some species which mostly contain cones of one sex. Male cones are produced in the springtime, and are the smaller of the two cone sexes, measuring on average 1-5 cm in length. They drop from the tree once their pollen has been dispersed.
After pollination, the female cones take up to 3 years to mature. When they reach maturity, they can grow up to 60 cm in length, and contain two seeds on each of the spirally placed scales. The seeds are dispersed when the cone opens, or when birds aid the process by opening the cones themselves.
See also: Pine wood.
--G&S Specialist Timber 09:09, 17 Jan 2017 (BST)
Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki
- 11 things you didn't know about wood.
- Ancient Woodland.
- Bamboo.
- Cedar.
- Chip carving.
- Confederation of Timber Industries.
- Cross-laminated timber.
- Definition of tree for planning purposes.
- Engineered bamboo.
- European Union Timber Regulation.
- Forests.
- Forest ownership.
- Forest Stewardship Council.
- Lime wood.
- Pine wood.
- Plywood.
- Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification.
- Softwood.
- The Scientific Properties of Wood.
- Timber.
- Timber preservation.
- Tree preservation order.
- Tree rights.
Featured articles and news
Combating burnout.
The 5 elements of seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke.
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.
Passivhaus social homes benefit from heat pump service
Sixteen new homes designed and built to achieve Passivhaus constructed in Dumfries & Galloway.
CABE Publishes Results of 2025 Building Control Survey
Concern over lack of understanding of how roles have changed since the introduction of the BSA 2022.
British Architectural Sculpture 1851-1951
A rich heritage of decorative and figurative sculpture. Book review.
A programme to tackle the lack of diversity.
Independent Building Control review panel
Five members of the newly established, Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended, panel appointed.
Welsh Recharging Electrical Skills Charter progresses
ECA progressing on the ‘asks’ of the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter at the Senedd in Wales.
A brief history from 1890s to 2020s.
CIOB and CORBON combine forces
To elevate professional standards in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Amendment to the GB Energy Bill welcomed by ECA
Move prevents nationally-owned energy company from investing in solar panels produced by modern slavery.
Gregor Harvie argues that AI is state-sanctioned theft of IP.
Experimental AI housing target help for councils
Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records.