GLEBE TREES AND SHRUBS

Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris)
  
Leaves
      
May 15, 2008. Note two twisted needles per group, characteristic of Scotch pine.





Bark

Fletcher's (Arboretum) May 8, 2008
Scotch pine has bark which is orange in places.   




Cones

See Austrian pine for a better photo of a very similar cone
that differs in that the latter has a tiny spine at each lip.
Scotch pine cones may be smaller.




Similar species
Austrian pine is the most common similar tree in the Glebe. I distinguish them as follows:
Austrian pine needles are considerably longer. The bunches on a branch are thick, full
and look like a chimney-cleaning brush. The needles on Scotch pine are smaller, sparser,
paler and the bunches are less impressive. Scotch pine needles have a definite twist
to them. I also find that they are harder to tear than Austrian pine, despite the flexibility
of Austrian pine needles.
Scotch pine bark gets markedly orange-coloured in the higher parts of the trunk. Austrian
pine can sometimes have orange elements to the bark, but evenly distributed from the
bottom up.
The cones are very similar but Austrian pine has a little barb on the chin. 

Red pine is rare or nonexistent in the Glebe. I have not seen one yet. In practice then, it
is not in the differential.
It usually, but not always, has a ramrod straight trunk, without branches for a long way up.
The bark has a lighter hue, it seems to me. The needles are similar but those of red pine will snap
if wrapped around your finger.