Pinaceae (Pine Family)

Taxonomy | Illustrated Key | Dichotomous Key | Genera | Uses | Family Traits

Pinaceae Taxonomy

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Divisions:

Tracheophyta (vascular)

Spermatophyta (seed bearing)

Gymnospermae (naked seed)

Class: Coniferae (cone bearing)

Family: Pinaceae (Pine Family)

Genera: 4

Species: 5

Abies lasiocarpa (Sub-alpine Fir)

Larix laricina (Larch, Tamarack)

Picea glauca (White Spruce)

Picea mariana (Black Spruce)

Pinus contorta (Lodgepole Pine)

English Name(s):

Pine Family

(Lat. pinus= raft or boat. Wood used in boat building)

Gwich'in Name:

Pinaceae Traits

Description:

Trees
Resignous having sticky oily sap.
Leaves needle-like
Mostly evergreen with exception of genus Larix
Plants monoecious (bisexual).
Male cones small produce copious amounts of pollen, deciduous.
Female cones are woody usualy persistent

Natural History:

Pinaceae as we know it emerged as a separate family about 100MYA

Family Size:

World:

Genera: 10

Species: 250

North America:

Genera:

Species:

Yukon:

Genera: 5

Species: 6

Pinus contorta (Lodgepole Pine)

Illustrated Key To Pinaceae Species

Abies lasiocarpa

Larix laricina

Pinus contorta

Picea mariana

Picea glauca

Dicotomous Key To Pinaceae Speceies

A: Leaves (needles) in dence clusters, deciduous: Larax laricina
A: Leaves (needles) single or in pairs, evergreen:

B:Leaves (needles) in pairs, longer than 2cm: Pinus contorta
B: Leaves (needles) single, 2cm or shorter:

C: Cones erect, bark smooth often with resign (sticky sap) filled blisters: Abies lasiocarpa
C: Cones not erect, bark rough: Picea

D: Cones longer than wide; Branchlets (leafy twigs) glabrous (not hairy): Picea glauca
D: Cones about as long as wide; Branchlets pubescent (hairy): Picea mariana

Pinaceae Genera

Abies (Fir Genus)

Female cones verticle on stems. Scales quickly disintigrating leaving spike like axis.
Bark often has resign (oily sticky sap) filled blisters.

Larix (Larch Genus)

Leaves (needles) deciduous.
Female cones smallish and round. Bright red durring flowering time become brown with age.

Pinaceae : Pine Family