Description: This tree is 40-90' tall at maturity, consisting of a single trunk and a rather broad irregular crown. The trunk is often crooked, but sometimes it is straight. The crown can be conical-ovoid to ovoid in shape with widely spreading to ascending lateral branches. The density of these branches varies with the growth of the tree. Trunk bark at the base is reddish gray and shallowly furrowed or fissured, while the thin bark of the upper trunk and major branches is orange-red and flaky. Young twigs are light brown and covered with needle-like leaves, but they become more gray and scaly in appearance with age. The needle-like leaves occur in clusters of 2 along the twigs; they are 1¼–3½" long, gray-green or blue-green, and twisted. The leaves are evergreen, remaining on the tree for 2-7 years (a shorter period of time for warm climates as opposed to cold climates). The upper surface of each leaf is slightly concave, while the lower surface is convex; there are 4-6 white lines that run along the length of the lower surface.
Scots Pine is
usually monoecious, although unisexual trees occasionally occur. Pollen
cones develop toward the tips of young twigs in whorled clusters. At
maturity, they are yellow, ovoid in shape, and about 1/3" (9 mm.) in
length. Each pollen cone consists of numerous globoid packets of pollen
(microsporangia) that break open to release the pollen. At this time,
the scaly seed cones are purplish red and about 1/3" (9 mm.) in length;
they develop in small clusters at the tips of young twigs.
Cross-pollination of the cones by wind can occur from mid-spring to
early summer; it typically lasts only a few days. Afterwards, the
pollen cones wither away, while the seed cones continue their
development and become larger in size; this development continues into
the following year. Full-sized seed cones are 1½-2½" long; they are
mostly green and ovoid-conical in shape while their scales are closed,
otherwise they are yellowish brown and ovoid-globoid in shape. The tips
of their woody scales often have vestigial prickles, but these
disappear with age. At the base of each scale, there is a pair of seeds
with elongated membranous wings (up to ¾" in length). Sterile seeds are
not uncommon. The seeds are distributed by the wind, primarily from
late fall to early spring. The root system sometimes produces a taproot
up to 10' long, otherwise it consists entirely of lateral roots that
are mostly shallow and widely spreading.
Cultivation:
Scots Pine prefers full sun, moist to dry conditions that are
well-drained, and an acidic sandy soil, although it also adapts to
other kinds of soil. Young trees usually grow fairly rapidly, while the
growth of older trees is slower. Because of disease, insect pests, and
climatic factors, Scots Pine can be short-lived, but at favorable sites
longevity is typically 150-300 years.
Range & Habitat:
Scots Pine has naturalized in only a few counties in Illinois, where it
is uncommon (see Distribution
Map). These naturalized populations tend
to persist only in sandy areas. Typical habitats include sandy upland
forests, sandy savannas, upland rocky woodlands, and open disturbed
areas near cities and suburbs. Sometimes Scots Pine can be found in
tree plantations and it is often used as a landscape plant. This tree
was introduced into the United States from Eurasia.
Faunal Associations:
Scots Pine, like other pines, is a food source of many insects. This
includes the caterpillars of the butterfly Callophrys niphon
(Pine Elfin), the caterpillars of several moths, Pineus strobi
(Pine Bark Adelgid), Toumeyella pini (Striped Pine
Scale), the aphids Cinara pini and Eulachnus
rileyi, Aphrophora parallela (Pine
Spittlebug), a few plant bugs, Tomicus piniperda
(Common Pine Shoot Beetle), the larvae of several long-horned beetles,
larvae of the metallic wood-boring beetles Buprestis lineata
and Chrysobothris cribraria, and the larvae of
several weevils. The Insect Table lists many of these
species. Vertebrate animals, particularly birds and mammals, make use
of pine trees in various ways. The seeds and/or buds are eaten by some
upland gamebirds and songbirds. These species include the Wild Turkey,
Bobwhite Quail, Red-Bellied Woodpecker, Mourning Dove, Black-Capped
Chickadee, Carolina Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Red-Breasted Nuthatch,
White-Breasted Nuthatch, Pine Grosbeak, Red Crossbill, White-Winged
Crossbill, Slate-Colored Junco, Pine Siskin, Common Redpoll, Monk
Parakeet (in urban areas), and Pine Warbler. The seeds are also eaten
by the Red Squirrel, Gray Squirrel, and White-Footed Mouse, while the
foliage and twigs are browsed by White-Tailed Deer and Elk. Pines are
favored nesting sites for some birds; these species include the Pine
Warbler, Yellow-Throated Warbler, and Blue-Headed Vireo. Because the
evergreen leaves provide good cover, the Evening Grosbeak, migrating
Robins, various owls, and other birds use these trees as roosting sites.
Photographic
Location: The Arboretum of the University of
Illinois in Urbana, Illinois.
Comments:
This introduced pine is often cultivated because of its evergreen
foliage and decorative seed cones. Large specimens of this species, in
particular, have orange-red bark along the upper trunk and larger
branches that is especially striking. The length of the needle-like
leaves is rather variable across different specimens; young
fast-growing trees tend to have longer leaves than older slow-growing
trees. Different varieties of Scots Pine have been described in
Eurasia; the description here applies to the typical variety (var.
sylvestris). In North America, this is the variety of Scots
Pine that is commonly encountered among the various cultivars. Scots
Pine can be distinguished from other Pinus spp.
(Pines) from a combination of the following characteristics: the color
of its needle-like leaves (gray-green or blue-green), the length of its
leaves (1¼-3½"), the arrangement of its leaves in clusters of 2, the
length of its seed cones (1½-2½"), and the absence of conspicuous
prickles at the tips of the woody scales of its seed cones. Sometimes
this species is also called 'Scotch Pine.'