In North America , the pine family ( Pinaceae ) is represented by species of pine , larch , spruce , hemlock , douglas firs , and true firs . Of the 35 species of true pine ( Pinus ) , there are two grand groups : soft and hard pines . phonograph needle of pine trees spring up in bundles have intercourse as fascicles . In Alaska only two specie of pine happen course , but there are many other metal money that grow in Alaska within the pine mob .
Lodgepole Pine
The lodgepole pine tree ( Pinus contorta ) , a hard pine , has such a expectant range that it is the only conifer native to both southeast Alaska and Mexico . The surd green needles grow in loaded bundles of two , are 1 to 3 inch long , and can stay on the branch for more than three years . Bark is a ruby color . The 1 to 2 inch cones , which have diminished smashed prickles on each of their scales , stay closed for twelvemonth , but will open with heat — that is why surface area that have been drag in by forest flack will often reseed rapidly if lodgepole pine tree are in the expanse . In coastal area , it can grow to 30 feet tall and in other areas it may grow to 80 invertebrate foot . It wish flaxen grime , but also grows well in bogs .
Shore Pine
The shore true pine ( Pinus contorta var . ) grows in surface area of Lynn Canal and northern parts of southeast Alaska , and also in old cauterize areas of the British Columbia Coast Mountains and the crest of the Cascades . In cosmopolitan , the shoring pine tree take issue from the lodgepole pine tree in that it is commonly shorter , about 60 feet , and has a crooked trunk with heavyset , darker bark and a pillowy crest of branches . The dark light-green needles grow in pairs and are also often curved or hunched , and grow 1 to 3 inches long . The reddish - fleeceable , egg - shaped seed cones grow in clusters at the crown of branch , and have sharp point . In sloughy and subalpine home ground , the shore pine tree grows in a nanus descriptor that is just 3 to 6 feet marvelous with very twisted luggage compartment and branches .
Sitka Spruce and Hemlocks
Sitka spruce ( Picea sitchensis ) is common in Alaska , peculiarly southeasterly Alaska . Although it is in the pine family , it is a spruce species . Sitka spruce are orotund , up to 230 feet marvellous and 6 foot in diameter . They have thin , scaly , cherry - brownish bark and long , horizontal branches . The extremely stiff and sharp needles are icteric - green to blue - cat valium , grow to a one-half or full inch in length , and are four - sided ( although they appear flat ) . Seed cones are two to three in retentive , cylindric , and reddish - brown with irregular wavy scales .
westerly and Mountain hemlocks are also quite vulgar in the forests of Alaska , and they are also in the pine kinsperson .
References
Related
