How to Identify Trees From the Pine Family

Trees of the genus Pinus are commonly known as pines. There are more than a hundred pine tree species throughout the world. Pines are relatively easy to distinguish from other trees using the following points.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Know whether or not the tree is evergreen. Pine trees do not lose their leaves in winter the way deciduous trees do.

2. Examine the tree's leaves. Pine trees have very thin leaves called needles, in contrast to the broad leaves of deciduous trees. The needles are needle-shaped and not flattened.

3. Observe where the leaves attach to the tree. On most pines the needles are attached in groups of 2 to 5 needles each.

4. Search for the presence of cones on the tree. Pines produce their seeds in cones, which vary in size and shape across pine species. Cones are in a sense the flowers of pine trees.

5. Smell the tree to see if there is an aroma. Most pine species have a distinctive sweet smell that is generally considered pleasing.

6. Look for the presence of sap. Break a small piece off of a branch and see if the broken ends secrete a sticky substance. Most pines are very resinous and produce copious amounts of sap which may even be evident on the external bark of the tree.

7. Consider the location in which the tree is growing. Pines can be found in a wide range of altitudes and soil types; however, most require full sun. For example, they do not grow well under a deciduous tree canopy.

Resources

• Learn more about trees from the Arbor Day foundation.
• Find detailed information about plant families on this website.