{{Short description|Species of plant (coniferous tree)}} {{Redirect|Red pine|other uses|Red Pine (disambiguation)}} {{Speciesbox | name = Red pine | image = Pinus resinosa.jpg | image_caption = Trees at Sherburne NWR, Minnesota | status = LC | status_system = IUCN3.1 | genus = Pinus | display_parents = 3 | parent = Pinus subsect. Pinus | species = resinosa | authority = Sol. ex Aiton | range_map = Pinus resinosa range map 1.png |status_ref=<ref name="iucn status 11 November 2021">{{cite iucn |last= Farjon| first= A. |date=2013 |title=''Pinus resinosa'' |volume=2013 |article-number=e.T42410A2978087 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T42410A2978087.en |access-date=11 November 2021}}</ref> }}
'''''Pinus resinosa''''', known as '''red pine'''<ref name="Field guide">{{cite book |last1=Moore|first1=Gerry |last2=Kershner|first2=Bruce |first3=Craig|last3=Tufts |first4=Daniel|last4=Mathews |first5=Gil |last5=Nelson |last6=Spellenberg|first6=Richard |last7=Thieret|first7=John W. |first8=Terry|last8=Purinton |last9=Block|first9=Andrew |display-authors=3 |title=National Wildlife Federation Field Guide to Trees of North America |publisher=Sterling Publishing |location=New York |date=May 9, 2008 |page=66 |isbn=978-1-4027-3875-3}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snapshots/plants/redpine.html |title=Red Pine |publisher=Minnesota Department of Natural Resources |website=dnr.state.mn.us |access-date=2011-05-08 |archive-date=2014-04-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407090053/http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/snapshots/plants/redpine.html }}</ref> (also '''Norway pine''' in Minnesota), is a pine native to Eastern North America, with a distribution from Pennsylvania and the Great Lakes region to Manitoba and Newfoundland. It is an adaptable species, and is a valuable forestry species in its native range. One of only two American members of subsection ''Pinus'', the species is characterised by low genetic diversity.
==Description== Red pine is a coniferous evergreen tree characterized by tall, straight growth.<ref name="fna">{{EFloras|1|233500952|Pinus resinosa |family=Pinaceae |first=Robert |last=Kral}}</ref> It usually ranges from {{convert|20|–|35|m|abbr=off}} in height and {{convert|1|m|abbr=on}} in trunk diameter, exceptionally reaching {{convert|43.77|m|ft|abbr=on|frac=2}} tall.<ref name="Gymnosperm Database">{{Gymnosperm Database |family=Pinaceae |genus=Pinus |species=resinosa |access-date=5 February 2012}}</ref> The crown is conical, becoming a narrow rounded dome with age. The bark is thick and gray-brown at the base of the tree, but thin, flaky and bright orange-red in the upper crown; the tree's name derives from this distinctive character. Some red color may be seen in the fissures of the bark. The species is self pruning; there tend not to be dead branches on the trees, and older trees may have very long lengths of branchless trunk below the canopy.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Grimm |first=William Carey |title=The Book of Trees |publisher=The Stockpole Company |year=1966 |location=Harrisburg, Pennsylvania |page=43 |language=en}}</ref>
The leaves are needle-like, dark yellow-green, in fascicles of two,<ref name="fna" /> {{convert|12|–|18|cm|frac=4|abbr=off}} long, and brittle. The leaves snap cleanly when bent; this character, stated as diagnostic for red pine in some texts, is however shared by several other pine species. The cones are symmetrical ovoid, {{convert|4|–|6|cm|in|frac=4|abbr=on}} long by {{convert|2.5|cm|in|frac=8|abbr=on}} broad, and purple before maturity, ripening to nut-blue and opening to {{convert|4|–|5|cm|in|frac=4|abbr=on}} broad, the scales without a prickle and almost stalkless.<ref name="Field guide" />The pine grows well in sandy soils and on soils which are too poor for white pine.<ref name=":0" />
=== Phylogeny === Red pine is notable for its very constant morphology and low genetic variation throughout its range, suggesting it has been through a near extinction in its recent evolutionary history.<ref name=journal1>{{Cite journal|author1=Fowler, D. P.|author2=Morris, R. W.|year=1977|title=Genetic diversity in Red Pine: evidence for low genic heterozygosity|journal=Canadian Journal of Forest Research|volume=7|issue=2|pages=343–347|doi=10.1139/x77-043|bibcode=1977CaJFR...7..343F }}</ref><ref name=journal2>{{Cite journal|first1=Jean-Pierre|last1=Simon|last2=Bergeron|first2=Yves|last3=Gagnon|first3=Daniel|year=1986|title=Isozyme uniformity in populations of Red Pine (''Pinus resinosa'') in the Abitibi Region, Quebec|journal=Canadian Journal of Forest Research|volume=16|issue=5|pages=1133–1135|doi=10.1139/x86-198|bibcode=1986CaJFR..16.1133S }}</ref> A genetic study of nuclear microsatellite polymorphisms among populations distributed throughout its natural range found that red pine populations from Newfoundland are genetically distinct from most mainland populations, consistent with dispersal from different glacial refugia in this highly self-pollinating species.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Microsatellite Analysis Reveals Genetically Distinct Populations of Red Pine |author=Jacquelyn Boys |author2=Marilyn Cherry |author3=Selvadurai Dayanandan |journal=American Journal of Botany |volume=92 |issue=5 |pages=833–841 |year=2005 |doi=10.3732/ajb.92.5.833|pmid=21652464 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
<gallery widths="200" heights="200"> File:Pinus resinosa1.jpg|An old tree in Itasca State Park, Minnesota File:PinusFlower.jpg|alt=Pollen cones|Pollen cones in spring File:Jack Pine needles and Red Pine cones 2016-06-02 074.jpg|alt=Cone |Cone (scale in cm) File:Red pine in the autumn.jpg|alt=Red pine boughs, showing yellowing and abscission of older foliage in the autumn|Red pine boughs, showing yellowing and abscission of older foliage in the autumn. File:WisconsinScenery.jpg|Tree roots anchor the structure and provide water and nutrients. The ground has eroded away around the roots of this young red pine tree. </gallery>
==Distribution and habitat== It occurs from Newfoundland west to Manitoba, and south to Pennsylvania, with several smaller, disjunct populations occurring in the Appalachian Mountains in Virginia and West Virginia, as well as a few small pockets in extreme northern New Jersey and northern Illinois.<ref name="iucn status 11 November 2021" /><ref>{{Illinois Wildflowers|trees/plants/red_pine|Pinus resinosa|access-date=May 1, 2017}}</ref> It can be found in a variety of habitats, predominantly in cool-temperate, hemiboreal and southern-mid boreal forests, with sparse populations found further north and south.<ref name=":0" />
==Ecology== It is extremely intolerant of shade, but does well in windy sites; it grows best in well-drained soil. It is a long-lived tree, reaching a maximum age of about 500 years.<ref>{{Cite web | url= http://www.ldeo.columbia.edu/~adk/oldlisteast/#spp |title = Eastern OLDLIST: A database of maximum tree ages for Eastern North America| via= ldeo.columbia.edu| publisher= Columbia Climate School, Columbia University | access-date= February 24, 2022}}</ref>
It produces extremely large quantities of turpentine-rich resin to heal injuries and ward off/kill pests, with its scientific epithet '''''resinosa''''' (meaning "resinous" or "full of resin" in Latin) reflecting such quality.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pinus resinosa - Plant Finder |url=https://www.missouribotanicalgarden.org/plantfinder/PlantFinderDetails.aspx?taxonid=285002 |access-date=2026-05-07 |website=www.missouribotanicalgarden.org}}</ref>
As a pioneer tree, red pines use their partially fire-resistant bark to survive small-to-medium forest fires. These fires clear out leaf litter and competing trees/saplings, allowing the pine's offspring to grow with more sun access.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wildland Fire in Red Pine and White Pine (U.S. National Park Service) |url=https://www.nps.gov/articles/wildland-fire-red-pine-white-pine.htm |access-date=2026-05-07 |website=www.nps.gov |language=en}}</ref>
== Uses == The wood is commercially valuable in forestry for timber and paper pulp, and the tree is also used for landscaping.<ref name=":0" /> The wood is light, hard, and very close grained. It is not durable in contact with soil without chemical treatment. It is used in construction for piling, masts, spars, boxes, and crates.<ref name=":0" />
The resin from the tree is often refined into rosin and turpentine. The rosin is used in a variety of cosmetics, crafts (such as candles) and as a natural, waterproof sealant/finish.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Jacobson-Hardy |first=Hannah |date=2025-02-22 |title=Pine Resin Uses and Recipes: Nature's Versatile Gift |url=https://www.sweetbirchherbals.com/post/pine-resin-uses-and-recipes-nature-s-versatile-gift |access-date=2026-05-07 |website=Sweet Birch Herbals |language=en}}</ref> Turpentine is used as a strong solvent, paint thinner and varnish, but it is extremely volatile and can cause fires/poisioning when mishandled.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Canada |first=Health |date=2020-03-13 |title=Turpentine and turpentine oil |url=https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/chemicals-product-safety/turpentine.html |access-date=2026-05-07 |website=www.canada.ca}}</ref> In its raw form, red pine resin can also be used as a fire starter and natural bandage due to its flammability and antiseptic properties respectively.<ref>{{Cite web |title=5 Uses for Pine Sap: How to Harvest and Utilize Pine Resin - 2026 |url=https://www.masterclass.com/articles/pine-sap |access-date=2026-05-07 |website=MasterClass |language=en}}</ref>
== In culture == The red pine is Minnesota's state tree.<ref>{{cite web |title=State Tree- Norway Pine |url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/about-minnesota/state-symbols/state-tree-norway-pine/ |website=sos.state.mn.us |publisher=Minnesota Secretary of State}}</ref> In Minnesota the use of the name "Norway"<ref name="Hoyt">{{Cite web |last=Hoyt |first=Richard |date=21 September 2017 |title=Red Pine Tree Facts |url=https://www.gardenguides.com/138057-red-pine-tree.html |access-date=24 February 2022 |website=gardenguides.com}}</ref> may stem from early Scandinavian immigrants who likened the American red pines to the Scots pines back home.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wright |first=Jacob J. |date=September 21, 2017 |title=What is a Norway Pine Tree? |url=https://www.gardenguides.com/info_8765567_norway-pine-tree.html |access-date=February 24, 2022 |website=gardenguides.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627054241/https://www.gardenguides.com/info_8765567_norway-pine-tree.html |archive-date=June 27, 2019}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == {{Commons category}} * [http://www.plantmaps.com/nrm/pinus-resinosa-red-pine-native-range-map.php Interactive Distribution Map of Red Pine] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170225015822/http://www.plantmaps.com/nrm/pinus-resinosa-red-pine-native-range-map.php |date=2017-02-25 }} at plantmaps.com
{{Taxonbar|from=Q2045958}} {{Authority control}}
resinosa Category:Trees of humid continental climate Category:Flora of Eastern Canada Category:Least concern flora of the United States Category:Trees of Northern America