SILVICS OF JACK PINE
(Pinus banksiana Lamb.)
Common names:
- princess pine, scrub pine, grey pine
Field identification aids:
- needles are light yellow-green, two per cluster forming a “V”
- cones point toward end of branch
- cones are strongly curved
- retains cones for years, even after tree is cut
- dead branches remain on tree giving it a scraggy appearance
Average mature tree:
- 50 to 60 years old
- 12 m to 20 m (40' to 67') tall
- 20 cm to 30 cm (8" to 12") in diameter at breast height
Maximum life span:
- 150 years
Shade Tolerance:
- intolerant
Rooting:
- moderately deep and wide-spreading
- produces a tap root on deep porous soils
Windfirmness:
- windfirm, but prone to mechanical breakage
Reproduction:
- reproduces by seed
- will begin to produce seed as early as 10 years with full production at 40 years
Growing sites:
- range from dry to poorly-drained soils
- best growth is on sandy, well-drained soils
Associated species:
- black spruce, white birch and aspen
- can be found in pure stands
Principal damaging agents:
- porcupines
Notes:
- jack pine comprises less than 1% of the merchantable volume in Nova Scotia
- generally used for railway ties, poles and fuelwood
- often establishes after a fire, particularly on poor sites
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