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
CLC and BSR process map for HRB approvals
One of the initial outputs of their weekly BSR meetings.
Building Safety Levy technical consultation response
Details of the planned levy now due in 2026.
Great British Energy install solar on school and NHS sites
200 schools and 200 NHS sites to get solar systems, as first project of the newly formed government initiative.
600 million for 60,000 more skilled construction workers
Announced by Treasury ahead of the Spring Statement.
The restoration of the novelist’s birthplace in Eastwood.
Life Critical Fire Safety External Wall System LCFS EWS
Breaking down what is meant by this now often used term.
PAC report on the Remediation of Dangerous Cladding
Recommendations on workforce, transparency, support, insurance, funding, fraud and mismanagement.
New towns, expanded settlements and housing delivery
Modular inquiry asks if new towns and expanded settlements are an effective means of delivering housing.
Building Engineering Business Survey Q1 2025
Survey shows growth remains flat as skill shortages and volatile pricing persist.
Construction contract awards remain buoyant
Infrastructure up but residential struggles.
Home builders call for suspension of Building Safety Levy
HBF with over 100 home builders write to the Chancellor.
CIOB Apprentice of the Year 2024/2025
CIOB names James Monk a quantity surveyor from Cambridge as the winner.
Warm Homes Plan and existing energy bill support policies
Breaking down what existing policies are and what they do.
Treasury responds to sector submission on Warm Homes
Trade associations call on Government to make good on manifesto pledge for the upgrading of 5 million homes.
A tour through Robotic Installation Systems for Elevators, Innovation Labs, MetaCore and PORT tech.
A dynamic brand built for impact stitched into BSRIA’s building fabric.
BS 9991:2024 and the recently published CLC advisory note
Fire safety in the design, management and use of residential buildings. Code of practice.