July 28, 2021
July 16, 2021
July 13, 2021
July 7, 2021
July 3, 2021
May 3, 2021
Catherine Boston
I took this picture of a branch of Virginia Pine on the Red Trail. You can identify that it is a Virginia Pine by the two, twisted needles in each bundle. Pine trees are gymnosperms and mostly wind pollinated which is extremely evident to anyone who parks their car near a pine tree this time of year. The cluster of yellow-brown cylinders near the ends of the branch are the male cones which are producing the pollen that is easily borne by the wind. You can also see a mature cone from a previous year. If you look closely, you can see the sharp edges at the end of each scale. This is also indicative of Virginia Pines.