Individual white fir ( Abies concolor) needles attach directly to branches. Fir needles give off a citrusy scent when crushed, which is a desirable aroma for candles.įigure 4. Fir needles are soft, flat (two-sided) and cannot be rolled between one’s fingers. When the needle is pulled off the branch or is naturally shed, a small, circular leaf scar is left behind. The base of the fir needle is expanded into a round base giving the needle the appearance of a suction-cup tipped dart. However, fir needles lack pegs and thus the branches are not rough after the needles are shed. Photos by author.įirs also have needles attached individually to the branches. Conifer images are of Colorado blue spruce ( P. These “wooden pegs” remain behind after the needle drops. Individual spruce needles attach to branches via a short, wooden, peg-like structure (inset). Spruce needles easily roll between one’s fingers and have a distinctive square (four-sided) shape.įigure 3. Spruce needles tend to be stiff and sharply pointed making them somewhat unpleasant to work around when doing yardwork, pruning or removal, or decorating. When the needles are shed, the pegs remain attached to the branches making the spruce branches feel rough after the needles are gone. Spruces retain their needles for four to 10 years before shedding them. Spruces have needles attached individually to the branches via short wooden, peg-like structures called pulvini (Fig. The examples being Virginia pine (two-needled), loblolly pine (three-needled), and eastern white pine (five-needled). Pine needles are produced in bundles or clusters of two, three, or five needles with papery fascicle at base (inset). This characteristic of having needles in bundles is unique to pines and immediately separates them from the spruces and firs, which present their needles on the branches singularly.įigure 2. Pines have slender needles (leaves) arranged in bundles of two, three or five with a permanent or deciduous papery wrap or sheath at their bases called a fascicle (Fig. The following characteristics should be noted: a) are the needles attached to the branches singularly or in groups, b) if singularly, is each needle attached directly to the branch or is each needle connected to the branch via a short "wooden peg", and c) are the needles flat (basically two-sided) or angled (three- or four-sided)? Additional needle characteristics (e.g., needle length, sharpness, flexibility, scent, and color) are needed when separating tree species from one another within the genera (pines, spruces, and firs). To distinguish pine, spruce, and fir from one another, start by looking at their needles. Common conifers: Austrian pine ( Pinus nigra), Colorado blue spruce ( Picea pungens), and white fir ( Abies concolor). And yet, it is very important to be able to identify these trees to understand where they will grow well, how to take good care of them, and when needed, how to diagnose why they might be ailing.įigure 1. Homeowners, landowners, and consumers often get these trees confused and even some well-versed gardeners have difficulties keeping them straight. To the casual observer, these trees look similar, but they belong to different genera. Conifers are commonly found growing in Ohio landscapes and several species are used as Christmas trees. Collectively, they are called conifers because of their cone production. Pine ( Pinus spp.), spruce ( Picea spp.), and fir ( Abies spp.) are all types, or genera, of medium to tall (60-200 feet), evergreen, needle-bearing, cone-producing trees that have a conical or pyramidal shape.
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