Species

Pinus banksiana

Etymology

banksiana: Named after Sir Joseph Banks, 1st Baronet, GCB, PRS (24 February 1743 - 19 June 1820) was an English naturalist, botanist and patron of the natural sciences.

Common Name(s)

jack pine

Authority

Pinus banksiana Lamb.

Family

Pinaceae

Flora Category

Vascular - Exotic

Structural Class

Gymnosperm Trees & Shrubs

Habitat

Terrestrial.

Features

Small widespreading, open tree to 10 m high. Branches very irregular, often curved. Two leaves per fascicle, 1-5 cm by 1.5-2mm, curved or twisted, lying at different angles to the shoot, deep green, ridgid and pungent. Male cones 1 cm long broadly cylindrical. Female cones 2.5-5.5 by 1.7-2.5 cm, persistent for many years and usually remaining closed. Cones usually curved towards the narrow apex, pale or yellowish-brown. Seed wing broadly asymmetric, 0.5-1 cm long.

Similar Taxa

Pinus banksiana is easily recognised by the smooth, elongated tapering, curved cones which remain on the tree until they sometimes cover the twisted branches down to the trunk.

Flower Colours

No Flowers

Year Naturalised

1957

Origin

Northern N. America

Reason For Introduction
Forestry

Life Cycle Comments
Perennial

This page last updated on 29 Mar 2010