Jack pine

Pinus banksiana

Foliage Type:

needle

Arrangement:

fascicle of 2

Distinguishing features: needles - fascicles of 2 (also 3 near tip of the leader on young trees) needles - 3/4" to 1 & 1/2" long, divergent and often twisted needles - yellow-green cones - 1 & 1/2" to 2" long, usually pointed forward, often strongly incurved cones - both opened (nonserotinous) and unopened cones (serotinous) can be found on most trees branching - multinodal, meaning that jack pine may develop more than one whorl of branches per year, unlike red and white pine

Habitats:	dry mesic sites mesic sites
Often confused with:	Red pine White pine
Ecological Value:	seeds eaten by a variety of animals including: game birds, squirrels, rabbits, hares, chipmunks, coyote, and black bear twigs and needles food for deer, moose, but usually under starving conditions
Did You Know?	Jack pine belongs to the hard pine group along with red pine. grows further north than any other American pine. cones may remained closed for 10 - 25 years and some may not open unless they are exposed to logging or fire. serves as a very important pioneer species on disturbed sites.
Uses / Ethnobotanical uses:	lumber (poor) turpentine, tar, pitch medicinal oil "forest wool" from needles