font settings

Font Size: Large | Normal | Small
Font Face: Verdana | Geneva | Georgia

Pinaceae

(Family)

Overview

[ Back to top ]

Trees or rarely shrubs, evergreen or deciduous, monoecious. Branchlets often dimorphic: long branchlets with clearly spirally arranged, sometimes scalelike leaves; short branchlets often reduced to slow growing lateral spurs bearing dense clusters of leaves at apex. Leaves solitary or in bundles of (1 or) 2-5(-8) when basally subtended by a leaf sheath; leaf blade linear< /span> or needlelike, not decurrent. Cones unisexual. Pollen cones solitary or clustered, with numerous spirally arranged microsporophylls ; microsporophyll with 2 microsporangia; pollen usually 2-saccate (nonsaccate in Cedrus, Larix, Pseudotsuga, and most species of Tsuga) . Seed cones erect or pendulous, maturing in 1st, 2nd, or occasi onally 3rd year, dehiscent or occasionally indehiscent, with many spirally arranged ovulate scales and bracts; ovulate scales usually smaller than bracts at pollination, with 2 upright ovules adaxially, free or only basally adnate with bracts, maturing into seed scales. Seed scales appressed, woody or leathery, variable in shape and size, with 2 seeds adaxially, persistent or deciduous after cone maturity. Bracts free or adnate basally with seed scales, well developed or rudimentary, exserted or included. Seeds terminally winged (except in some species of Pinus) . Cotyledons 2-18. Germination hypogeal or epigeal. 2n = 24* (almost always) .

Ten or eleven genera and ca. 235 species: N hemisphere; ten genera (two endemic) and 108 species (43 endemic, 24 introduced) in China.

Species of the Pinaceae are among the most valuable and commercially important plants in the world. Most species are trees, and are often excellent sources of lumber, wood products, and resins; many are cultivated for afforestation and as ornamentals.[1]

Photos

[ Back to top ]

Taxonomy

[ Back to top ]

The Family Pinaceae is further organized into finer groupings including:

Genera

[ Back to top ]

Abies

Trees evergreen, crown usually spirelike to conic, sometimes flat to round topped in age. Bark initially thin, smooth, bearing resin blisters, in age furrowed and/or flaking in plates. Branches whorled, irregular internodal branches occasionally produced by epicormic sprouting (growing from a dormant bud) ; short (spur) shoots absent; leaf scars prominent, ± circular to broadly elliptic, flush with twig surface, slightly depressed, or slightly raised evenly all around. Buds ovate or oblong, resinous or not, apex rounded or pointed. Leaves borne singly, persisting 5 or more years, spirally arranged but often proximally twisted so as to appear either 1-ranked (pointing up like toothbrush bristles) or 2-ranked, sessile, typically constricted and often twisted above the somewhat broadened base, sheath absent; leaves on vegetative branches flattened, frequently grooved adaxially, usually notched to rounded at apex; leaves on fertile branches sometimes appearing 4-sided, upright, sharp-pointed to rounded at apex; resin canals 2. Cones borne on year-old twigs. Pollen cones grouped, ovate or oblong-cylindric, leaving gall-like protuberances after falling, yellow to red, green, blue, or purple. Seed cones maturing in 1 season, erect, ovoid to oblong-cylindric or cylindric, not falling whole but scale by scale, cone axis persisting as an erect "spike" on branch; scales shed individually, fan-shaped, lacking apophysis and umbo; bracts included to exserted. Seeds winged, the wing-seed juncture bearing resin sac; cotyledons 4--10. x =12.[2] [more]

Cathaya

Trees evergreen; trunk monopodial, columnar, straight; branchlets apparently dimorphic: long branchlets with alternate rapid and slow growths that result in sets of leaves alternating with denser tufts; false short (lateral) branchlets bearing solitary leaves so densely as to appear clustered. Leaves spirally arranged, radially spreading, linear-oblanceolate, slightly curved or straight, flattened, longitudinally grooved adaxially, stomatal bands 2, abaxial, white, separated by an elevated midvein, vascular bundle 1, resin canals 2, marginal, margin entire, apex rounded. Pollen cones 1-3 from axillary buds on branchlets. Pollen 2-saccate, with visible cap on pole. Seed cones axillary, sessile, initially erect, finally pendulous, ovoid, maturing in 1st year, often persistent for many years. Seed scales suborbicular, woody, stiff, dehiscent at maturity, persistent. Bracts spatulate, apex tapering. Seeds obliquely ovoid; wing membranous. Cotyledons 3 or 4. Germination epigeal. 2n = 24*.[3] [more]

Cedrus

Trees evergreen, monoecious; branchlets strongly dimorphic: long branchlets growing several cm each year and bearing very slow-growing, lateral short branchlets; winter buds small, scales persistent. Leaves spirally arranged and radially spreading on long branchlets, shorter and very densely clustered on short branchlets, needlelike, triangular or ± quadrangular in cross section, stiff, stomatal lines present both adaxially and abaxially, most numerous abaxially, vascular bundles 2, almost fused, resin canals 2, small, marginal. Cones borne on apex of short branchlets, solitary, erect. Pollen cones with many spirally arranged microsporophylls; microsporangia 2; pollen not saccate. Seed cones erect, light purple at fertilization, maturing in 2nd(or 3rd) year; ovulate scales spirally arranged, sessile, with small bracts and 2 ovules adaxially. Seed scales closely arranged, large, woody, those at base and apex of cone sterile, deciduous at maturity. Bracts minute, falling together with seed scales at maturity from persistent, central axis. Seeds with large, membranous wing. Cotyledons usually 6-10. Germination epigeal. 2n = 24.[4] [more]

Cembra

[more]

Cephalorrhynchus

[more]

Eotaiwania

[more]

Hesperopeuce

[more]

Keteleeria

Trees evergreen; bark longitudinally fissured; crown broad; branches irregular, long; branchlets weakly ridged and grooved with poorly defined pulvini and small, circular leaf scars; short branchlets absent. Leaves spirally and usually ± pectinately arranged, or occasionally almost radially spreading, linear to lanceolate, flattened, midvein raised on both sides, stomatal lines usually all abaxial, in 2 bands separated by midvein, sometimes also a few adaxial lines present, vascular bundle 1, resin canals 2, sublateral, marginal. Pollen cones lateral or terminal, 4-8 in umbellate clusters, arising from a single bud; pollen 2-saccate. Seed cones terminal, solitary, erect, cylindric or conical-cylindric, maturing in 1st year; rachis breaking off near base or slowly disintegrating. Seed scales woody, persistent. Bracts ligulate-spatulate, 1/2-3/5 as long as seed scales, apex cuspidate or 3-lobed. Seeds triangular-oblong, covered on 1 side by wing, together as long as seed scales; wing lustrous, semitrullate or cuneate, leathery-membranous. Cotyledons 2-4. Germination hypogeal. 2n = 24*.[5] [more]

Larix

Trees deciduous; crown sparse, open. Bark silver-gray to gray-brown on young trees, becoming reddish brown to brown, smooth initially, scaly to thickened and furrowed with age. Branches whorled; short (spur) shoots prominent on twigs 2 years or more old, each bearing leaves (needles), and often pollen cone, or seed cone; lateral long shoots (sylleptic branches) sometimes produced by current-year growth increments; leaf scars many. Buds rounded. Leaves in tufts of 10--60 on short (spur) shoots or borne singly on 1st-year long shoots, deciduous, ± flattened, with abaxial keel, sessile, base decurrent, sheath absent, apex pointed or rounded; resin canals 2. Pollen cones solitary, ovoid-cylindric, yellowish. Seed cones maturing in 1 season, persisting several years, erect, globose to ovoid, usually terminal on short shoots and thus appearing stalked, sometimes sessile on 1-year-old long shoots; scales persistent, circular to oblong-obovate, thin, lacking apophysis and umbo; bracts included or exserted. Seeds winged; cotyledons 4--6. x =12.[6] [more]

Peuce

[more]

Picea

Trees evergreen; crown broadly conic to spirelike; leading shoot erect. Bark gray to reddish brown, thin and scaly (with thin plates), sometimes with resin blisters (especially in Picea engelmannii and P. glauca ), becoming relatively thick and furrowed with age. Branches whorled; short (spur) shoots absent; twigs roughened by persistent leaf bases. Buds ovoid, apex rounded to acute, sometimes resinous. Leaves borne singly, spreading in all directions from twigs, persisting to 10 years, mostly 4-angled and square in cross section (to triangular or ± flattened), mostly rigid, sessile on peglike base; base decurrent, persistent after leaves shed, sheath absent; apex usually sharp-pointed, sometimes bluntly acute; resin canals 1--2. Cones borne on year-old twigs. Pollen cones grouped, axillary, oblong, yellow to purple. Seed cones maturing in 1 season, usually shed at maturity (persisting for several years in Picea mariana ), borne mostly on upper branches, pendent, ovoid to cylindric, sessile or terminal on leafy branchlets and thus appearing ± stalked; scales persistent, elliptic to fan-shaped, thin, lacking apophysis and umbo; bracts included. Seeds winged; cotyledons 5--l5. x =12.[7] [more]

Pinus

Trees or shrubs aromatic, evergreen; crown usually conic when young, often rounded or flat-topped with age. Bark of older stems variously furrowed and plated, plates and/or ridges layered or scaly. Branches usually in pseudowhorls; shoots dimorphic with long shoots and short shoots; short shoots borne in close spirals from axils of scaly bracts and bearing fascicles of leaves (needles) . Buds ovoid to cylindric, apex pointed (blunt), usually resinous. Leaves dimorphic, spirally arranged; foliage leaves (needles) (1--) 2--5(--6) per fascicle, persisting 2--12 or more years, terete or ± 2--3-angled and rounded on abaxial surface, sessile, sheathed at base by 12--15 overlapping scale leaves, these (at least firmer basal ones) persisting for life of fascicle or shed after first season; resin canals 2 or more. Pollen cones in dense, spikelike cluster around base of current year's growth, mostly ovoid to cylindric-conic, tan to yellow, red, blue, or lavender. Seed cones maturing in 2(--3) years, shed early or variously persistent, pendent to ± erect, at maturity conic or cylindric, sessile or stalked, shedding seed soon after maturity or variously serotinous (not opening upon maturity but much later) ; scales persistent, woody or pliable, surface of exposed apical portion of each scale (apophysis) thickened, with umbo (exposed scale surface of young cone) represented by a scar (sometimes apiculate) or extended into a hook, spur, claw, or prickle; bracts included. Seeds winged or wingless; cotyledons (3--) 6--10(--18) . x =12.[8] [more]

Pinus-Larix

[more]

Pseudolarix

Trees deciduous; trunk monopodial, straight, terete; branches irregularly whorled; branchlets strongly dimorphic: long branchlets with leaves spirally arranged and radially spreading; short branchlets with leaves radially arranged in false whorls of 10-30 (often spirally spread like a discoid star). Leaves green, turning golden yellow before falling in autumn, narrowly oblanceolate-linear, flattened, 1.5-4 mm wide, flexible, stomatal lines abaxial, in 2 bands, separated by midvein, vascular bundle 1, resin canals 2 or 3 (-7), marginal. Pollen cones terminal on short branchlets, borne in umbellate clusters of 10-25, pendulous at maturity; pollen 2-saccate. Seed cones solitary, shortly pedunculate, erect or ± spreading, ovoid-globose, 2-seeded, maturing in 1st year. Seed scales thick, woody, deciduous at maturity. Bracts adnate to seed scales at base and shed together with them at maturity. Seeds with large, backward projecting wing extending beyond scale margin at maturity. Cotyledons 4-7. 2n = 44*.[9] [more]

Pseudotsuga

Trees conic, evergreen. Bark initially smooth, with resin blisters; in age reddish brown, corky, furrowed. Branches often pendulous, irregularly whorled; short (spur) shoots absent; leaf scars transversely elliptic, slightly raised proximally but essentially flush with twig distally. Buds elongate, not resinous, apex acute. Leaves borne singly, persisting 6--8 years, alternate, short-stalked, flattened; resin canals 2, marginal. Cones borne on year-old twigs. Pollen cones axillary. Seed cones maturing first season, shed whole, deflexed or pendent, ellipsoid, ovoid, or cylindric, nearly sessile, lacking apophysis and umbo; scales persistent, apex rounded; bracts ± exserted, apex 3-lobed, lobes with acute apices, central lobe narrow, longer than lateral lobes. Seeds winged; cotyledons 6--12. x =12, 13.[10] [more]

Shishindenia

[more]

Steinhauera

[more]

Strobus

[more]

Tsuga

Trees evergreen; crown conic; leading shoot usually drooping. Bark gray to brown, scaly, often deeply furrowed. Branches horizontal, often tending to be arranged in flattened "sprays" and arched downward; short (spur) shoots absent; young twigs and distal portions of stem flexuous and pendent, roughened by peglike projections persisting after leaves fall. Buds mostly rounded at apex, not resinous. Leaves borne singly, persisting several years, ± 2-ranked or radiating in all directions, flattened to somewhat angular; abruptly narrowed to a petiolelike base, set on peglike projections, these angled, projected forward, sheath absent; apex rounded or notched; resin canals 1. Cones borne on year-old twigs. Pollen cones solitary, globose, brown. Seed cones maturing in 1 year, shedding seeds and falling soon thereafter or persisting for several years, pendent, ovoid, oblong, or oblong-cylindric, sessile or nearly so; scales persistent, shape various, thin, leathery, lacking apophysis and umbo; bracts small, included. Seeds winged; cotyledons 4--6. x =12.[11] [more]

At least 148 species and subspecies belong to the Genus Tsuga.

More info about the Genus Tsuga may be found here.

Bibliography

[ Back to top ]

Footnotes

[ Back to top ]
  1. Liguo Fu, Nan Li, Thomas S. Elias & Robert R. Mill "Pinaceae". in Flora of China Vol. 4 Page 11. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org.
  2. Richard S. Hunt "Abies". in Flora of North America Vol. 2. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org.
  3. "Cathaya". in Flora of China Vol. 4 Page 37. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org.
  4. "Cedrus". in Flora of China Vol. 4 Page 52. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org.
  5. "Keteleeria". in Flora of China Vol. 4 Page 42. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org.
  6. William H. Parker "Larix". in Flora of North America Vol. 2. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org.
  7. Ronald J. Taylor "Picea". in Flora of North America Vol. 2. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org.
  8. Robert Kral "Pinus". in Flora of North America Vol. 2. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org.
  9. "Pseudolarix". in Flora of China Vol. 4 Page 41. Published by Science Press (Beijing) and Missouri Botanical Garden Press. Online at EFloras.org.
  10. Barney Lipscomb "Pseudotsuga". in Flora of North America Vol. 2. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org.
  11. Ronald J. Taylor "Tsuga". in Flora of North America Vol. 2. Oxford University Press. Online at EFloras.org.

Sources

[ Back to top ]
Last Revised: September 22, 2009
2009/09/22 13:43:36